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DAYTON,   OHIO: 

UNITED  BRETHREN  PRINTING  HOUSE, 
1877. 


CONTENTS 


PAGB. 

CHAPTER  I.— Origin  of  the  Church 5 

CHAPTER  II.— Confession  0/ Faith 11 

CHAPTER  III.— Constitution 14 

CHAPTER  lY.— Members 16 

Section  i.     Reception  of  members ,16 

Section  2.     Duties  of  members 18 

Section  3.     Trial  of  members 28 

Section  4.     Dismissal  of  members 26 

CHAPTER  Y .—Government  0/ the  Church 97 

Section  i.     Classes 27 

Section  2.     Leaders  and  their  duties 28 

Section  3.     Stewards  and  their  duties 29 

Section  4.     Official  meetings 29 

Section  5.     Quarterly  conference 31 

Section  6.     Annual  conference 

Section  7.     General   Conference 

CKAVT^^Yl.— Ministry  0/ the  Church 43 

Section  i.     Exhorters 43 

Section  2.     Quarterly  conference  preachers 44 

Section  3.     Annual  conference  preachers 46 

Section  4.    Reception  of  preachers  from  other  churches  .  49 

Section  5.     Election  of  elders 50 

Section  6.     Ordination  of  elders 52 

Section  7.     Duties  of  elders 54 

Section  8.     Presiding  elders  and  their  duties 55 

Section  9.     Election  of  bishops  and  their  duties 57 

Section  10.     Duties  of  preachers 60 

Section  11.     Itinerant  preachers'  duties 62 

Section  12.     Preachers'  salaries 66 

Section  13.     Trial  of  preachers 67 

Section  14.     Transfer  of  preachers 70 

CHAPTER  Vll.— The  Itinerancy,  Organization,  and 

Support 71 

CHAPTER  Will.— Appeals 73 

Section  I.    From  decision  of  a  class  .  . 73 


IV  CONTENTS. 


Section  2.     From  decision  of  quarterly  conference    ...  74 

Section  3.     From  decision  of  an  annual  conference  ...  74 

CHAPTER  lyi.— Duties  in  General 75 

Section  i.     Necessity  of  union  among  ourselves  ....  75 

Section  2.     Visiting  from  house  to  house 76 

Section  3.     Singing 77 

CHAPTER    Y..— Moral  Reform ...  78 

Section  i.     Temperance 78 

Section  2.     Slavery 78 

Section  3.     Secret  societies 79 

Section  4.     Oaths 82 

Section  5.     War 82 

CHAPTER   y^\.— Doctrinal  Publications 83 

CHAPTER   y^W.— Formulas 83 

Section  i.     Marriage 83 

Section  2.     Burial  of  the  dead 85 

CHAPTER  -:L\\\.— Charters 87 

CHAPTER  X-IY .—Sabbath-schools 88 

Section  i.     Duties  to  children  and  Sabbath-schools  ...  88 

Section  2.     Constitution  of  the  General  S.  S.  Association  88 

CHAPTER  :^V .—Missionary  Society 99 

CnAVTY^^^Yl.— Woman's  Missionary  Society  .   .   .  98 

Section  i.     Constitution 98 

Section  2.     Branch   constitution loi 

Section  3.     Local  constitution 103 

Cn AVT ER  XYU.—  CAurch-erection  Society 105 

CHAPTER  XY 111. —Printing-  Establishment  ....  107 

Ql^KVYERYAy^.— Course  of  Reading no 

Section  i.     English no 

Section  2.     German 112 

CHAPTER   Y:Y..— Rules  for  Building  Meeting  and 

Parsonage    Houses ,  113 

CHAPTER  y.y.\.— Board  of  Education 117 

CHAPTER  y^YAl.— Boundaries 122 

Section  i.     Bishop's    districts 12a 

Section  2.    Annual   conferences '  123 


^^c./e/7^^ 


CHAPTER  I. 

Origin  of  the  United  Brethren  in  Christ. 


In  the  eighteenth  century  it  pleased  the  Lord 
our  God  to  awaken  persons  in  different  parts 
of  the  world,  who  should  raise  up  the  Christian 
religion  from  its  fallen  state  and  preach  the 
gospel  of  Christ  crucified  in  its  purity. 

About  the  middle  of  the  said  century,  the 
Lord,  in  mercy,  remembered  the  Germans  in 
America,  who,  living  scattered  in  this  extensive 
country,  had  but  seldom  an  opportunity  to  hear 
the  gospel  of  a  crucified  Savior  preached  to 
them  in  their  native  language. 

Among  others,  he  raised  up  William  Ot- 
TERBEiN  and  Martin  Boehm,  in  the  State  of 
Pennsylvania,  and  George  A.  Geeting,  in  the 
State  of  Maryland,  armed  them  with  spirit, 
grace,  and  strength  to  labor  in  his  neglected 
vineyard,  and  to  call,  among  the  Germans  in 
America,  sinners  to  repentance.    These  men 

5 


6  DISCIPLINE. 

obeyed  the  call  of  their  Lord  and  Master. 
Their  labors  were  blest,  and  they  established 
in  many  places  excellent  societies  and  led 
many  precious  souls  to  Jesus  Christ.  Their 
sphere  of  action  spread  more  and  more,  so 
that  they  found  it  necessary  to  look  about  for 
more  fellow-laborers  to  engage  in  the  vineyard 
of  the  Lord,  for  the  harvest  was  great  and  the 
laborers  but  few.  The  Lord  called  others,  who 
were  willing  to  devote  their  strength  to  his 
service.  Such,  then,  were  accepted  by  one  or 
other  of  the  preachers  as  fellow-laborers. 

The  number  of  members  in  the  society  in 
different  parts  of  the  country  continued  to  in- 
crease from  time  to  time,  and  the  gracious 
work  of  reformation  spread  through  the  states 
of  Pennsylvania,  Maryland,  and  Virginia. 
Several  great  meetings  were  appointed  and 
held  annually.  On  such  occasions  Otter- 
BEIN  would  hold  particular  conversations  with 
the  preachers  then  present,  and  represent  to 
them  the  importance  of  the  ministry  and  the 
necessity  of  their  utmost  endeavors  to  save 
souls.  At  one  of  these  meetings  it  was  re- 
solved to  hold  a  conference  with  all  the  preach- 
ers, in  order  to  take  into  consideration  how, 
and  in  what  manner,  they  might  be  most  use- 
ful. 


DISCIPLINE.  7 

The  first  conference  was  held  in  the  city  of 
Baltimore,  Maryland,  in  the  year  of  our  Lord, 
1789.     The  following  preachers  were  present : 
Wm.  Otterbein,  Adam  Lehman, 

Martin  Boehm,  John  Ernst, 

Geo.  a.  Geeting,        Henry  Weidner, 

Christian  Newcomer. 
The  second  conference  was  held  in  Paradise 
Township,  York  County,  Pennsylvania,  at  the 
house  of  Bro.  Spangler,  in  the  year  of  our 
Lord,    1791.      The   following  preachers  were 
present : 
Wm.  Otterbein,       John  Ernst, 
Martin  Boehm,        J.  G.  Pfrimmer, 
Geo.  a.  Geeting,     John  Neidig, 
Ch'n.  Newcomer,      Benedict  Sanders, 

Adam  Lehman. 
After  mature  deliberation  how  they  might 
labor  most  usefully  in  the  vineyard  of  the 
Lord,  they  again  appointed  such  as  fellow- 
laborers  whom  they  had  cause  to  believe  had 
experienced  true  religion  in  their  souls. 

In  the  meantime  the  number  of  members 
continued  to  increase,  and  the  preachers  were 
obliged  to  appoint  an  annual  conference,  in 
order  to  unite  themselves  more  closely  and  to 
labor  more  successfully  in  the  vineyard  of  the 
Lord;    for  some  had   been    Presbyterians  or 


8  DISCIPLINE. 

German  Reformed,  some  Lutherans,  and  others 
Mennonites.  They  accordingly  appointed  a 
conference  to  be  held  on  the  25th  of  Septem- 
ber, 1800,  in  Frederick  County,  Maryland,  at 
the  house  of  Bro.  Frederick  Kemp.  The 
following  preachers  were  present : 
Wm.  Otterbein,  Christian  Krum, 

Martin  Boehm,  Henry  Krum, 

Geo.  a.  Geeting,  John  Hershey, 

Ch'n.  Newcomer,        Jacob  Geisinger, 
Adam  Lehman,  Henry  Boehm, 

Abraham  Tracksel,  Diet'k  Aurand, 

J.  G.  Pfrimmer. 
There  they  united  themselves  into  a  society 
which  bears  the  name  "United  Brethren 
in  Christ,"  and  elected  Wm.  Otterbein  and 
Martin  Boehm  as  superintendents  or  bishops, 
and  agreed  that  each  of  them  should  be  at 
liberty  as  to  the  mode  and  manner  of  baptism, 
to  perform  it  according  to  his  own  convictions. 
From  this  time,  the  society  increasing  still 
more  and  more,  preachers  were  appointed  to 
travel  regularly,  inasmuch  as  the  number  of 
preaching  places  could  not  otherwise  be  at- 
tended to  ;  and  the  work  spread  itself  into  the 
states  of  Ohio  and  Kentucky.  It  then  became 
necessary  to  appoint  a  conference  in  the  State 
of  Ohio,  because  it  was  conceived  too  laborious 


DISCIPLINE.  9 

for  the  preachers  who  labored  in  those  states 
to  travel  annually  such  a  great  distance  to  con- 
ference. 

,  In  the  meantime  Brothers  Boehm  and  Geet- 
ING  died,  and  Brother  Otterbein  desired  that 
another  bishop  should  be  elected  (because  in- 
firmity and  old  age  would  not  permit  him  to 
superintend  any  longer),  who  should  take 
charge  of  the  society,  and  preserve  discipline 
and  order.  It  was  resolved  at  a  former  con- 
ference that  whenever  one  of  the  bishops  died 
another  should  be  elected  in  his  place :  ac- 
cordingly. Brother  Christian  Newcomer  was 
elected  bishop,  to  take  charge  of  and  superin- 
tend the  concerns  of  the  society. 

The  want  of  a  discipline  in  the  society  had 
long  been  deeply  felt,  and  partial  attempts  hav- 
ing been  made  at  different  times,  it  was  resolved, 
at  the  conference  held  in  the  State  of  Ohio, 
that  a  general  conference  should  be  held  in 
order  to  accomplish  the  same,  in  a  manner  not 
derogatory  to  the  word  of  God.  The  mem- 
bers of  this  conference  were  to  be  elected  from 
among  the  preachers  in  the  different  parts  of 
the  country,  by  a  vote  of  the  society  in  gene- 
ral. The  following  brethren  were  duly  elected : 
Ch'n  Newcomer,  Daniel  Troyer, 
Abr'm  Heistand,        Geo.  Benedum, 


lO  DISCIPLINE. 

Andrew  Zeller,        Abr'm  Tracksel, 
Christian  Berger,    Henry  G.  Spayth, 
Abraham  Myer,         I.  Nighswanger, 
John  Schneider,        Christian  Krum, 
Henry  Kumler,         Jacob  Bowlus. 
The  conference  convened  on  the  6th  of  June, 
1815,   near    Mount    Pleasant,    Westmoreland 
County,  Pennsylvania.    After  mature  delibera- 
tion, they  presented  to  their  brethren  a  disci- 
pline, containing  the  doctrine  and  rules  of  the 
Church,  desiring  that  they,  together  with   the 
word  of  God,  should  be  strictly  observed. 

God  is  a  God  of  order,  but  where  there  is  no 
order  nor  church  discipline  the  spirit  of  love 
and  charity  will  be  lost. 

Therefore,  brethren,  we  beseech  you  to  fol- 
low the  example  of  our  Lord,  as  it  is  written, 
"Be  kindly  affectioned  one  to  another  with 
brotherly  love ;  in  honor  preferring  one 
another.  Let  the  mind  be  in  you  which  was 
in  Christ,  who  took  upon  him  the  form  of  a 
servant,  humbled  himself,  and  became  obe- 
dient unto  death,  even  the  death  of  the  cross," 
that  by  his  grace  we  may  submit  ourselves  one 
to  another  in  the  fear  of  God.  He  who  will 
not  submit  is  in  want  of  humble  love.  Jesus 
said,  "Whosoever  will  be  chief  among  you, 
let  him  be  your  servant.     By  this  shall  all  men 


DISCPLINE.  II 

know  that  ye  are  my  disciples,  if  ye  have  love 
one  to  another;  and  whoso  loveth  not  his 
brother  abideth  in  death."  Let  us  walk  in 
newness  of  life,  that  the  prayer  of  our  Lord 
may  be  answered  in  us  ;  that  we  may  be  one 
in  him,  and  that  he  may  give  us  the  glory 
which  he  gave  to  his  disciples,  that  we  may  be 
one  even  as  he  and  the  Father  are  one. 
Therefore,  beloved  brethren,  let  us  strive  to  be 
like-minded,  having  the  same  love,  being  of 
one  accord,  of  one  mind.  Let  no  one  speak 
or  think  evil  of  his  brother,  but  pray  God  that 
he  may  grant  us  his  Spirit  and  an  earnest  de- 
sire to  lead  a  truly  devoted  life,  to  the  honor 
and  glory  of  his  holy  name.    Amen. 

CHAPTER  n. 

CONFESSION  OF    FAITH. 

In  the  name  of  God  we  declare  and  confess 
before  all  men,  that  we  believe  in  the  only  true 
God,  the  Father,  the  Son  and  the  Holy  Ghost, 
that  these  three  are  one :  the  Father  in  the 
Son,  the  Son  in  the  Father,  and  the  Holy 
Ghost  equal  in  essence  or  being  with  both  ; 
that  this  triune  God  created  the  heavens  and 
the  earth,  and  all  that  in  them  is,  visible  as 


12  DISCIPLINE. 

well  as  invisible,  and  furthermore  sustains, 
governs,  protects,  and  supports  the  same. 

We  believe  in  Jesus  Christ ;  that  he  is  very 
God  and  man ;  that  he  became  incarnate  by 
the  power  of  the  Holy  Ghost  in  the  Virgin 
Mary,  and  was  born  of  her;  that  he  is  the 
Savior  and  Mediator  of  the  whole  human  race, 
if  they  with  full  faith  in  him  accept  the  grace 
proffered  in  Jesus  ;  that  this  Jesus  suffered  and 
died  on  the  cross  for  us,  was  buried,  arose 
again  on  the  third  day,  ascended  into  heaven, 
and  sitteth  on  the  right  hand  of  God,  to  inter- 
cede for  us ;  and  that  he  shall  come  again  at 
the  last  day,  to  judge  the  quick  and  the  dead. 

We  believe  in  the  Holy  Ghost ;  that  he  is 
equal  in  being  with  the  Father  and  the  Son, 
and  that  he  comforts  the  faithful,  and  guides 
them  into  all  truth. 

We  believe  in  a  holy  Christian  church,  the 
communion  of  saints,  the  resurrection  of  the 
body,  and  life  everlasting. 

We  believe  that  the  Holy  Bible,  Old  and 
New  Testament,  is  the  word  of  God ;  that  it 
contains  the  only  true  way  to  our  salvation  ; 
that  every  true  Christian  is  bound  to  acknowl- 
edge and  receive  it  with  the  influence  of  the 
Spirit  of  God,  as  the  only  rule  and  guide  ;  and 
that  without  faith  in  Jesus  Christ,  true  repent- 


DISCIPLINE.  13 

ance,  forgiveness  of  sins,  and  following  after 
Christ,  no  one  can  be  a  true  Christian. 

We  also  believe  that  what  is  contained  in 
the  Holy  Scriptures,  to-wit :  the  fall  in  Adam 
and  redemption  through  Jesus  Christ,  shall  be 
preached  throughout  the  world. 

We  believe  that  the  ordinances,  viz :  baptism 
and  the  remembrance  of  the  sufferings  and 
death  of  our  Lord  Jesus  Christ,  are  to  be  in  use, 
and  practiced  by  all  Christian  societies ;  and 
that  it  is  incumbent  on  all  the  children  of  God 
particularly  to  practice  them ;  but  the  manner 
in  which  ought  always  to  be  left  to  the  judg- 
ment and  understanding  of  every  individual. 
Also  the  example  of  washing  feet  is  left  to  the 
judgment  of  every  one,  to  practice  or  not :  but 
it  is  not  becoming  for  any  of  our  preachers  or 
members  to  traduce  any  of  their  brethren 
whose  judgment  and  understanding  in  these 
respects  is  different  from  their  own,  either  in 
public  or  private.  Whosoever  shall  make  him- 
self guilty  in  this  respect,  shall  be  considered  a 
traducer  of  ..h  brethren,  and  sh^l  be  answer- 
able for  the  same. 


14  DISCIPLINE. 

CHAPTER  III. 

CONSTITUTION. 

We,  the  members  of  the  Church  of  the 
United  Brethren  in  Christ,  in  the  name  of 
God,  do,  for  the  perfecting  of  the  saints,  for 
the  work  of  the  ministry,  for  the  edifying  of 
the  body  of  Christ,  as  well  as  to  produce  and 
secure  a  uniform  mode  of  action,  in  faith  and 
practice,  also  to  define  the  powers  and  the 
business  of  quarterly,  annual  and  general  con- 
ferences, as  recognized  by  this  Church,  ordain 
the  following  articles  of  Constitution. 

ARTICLE    I. 

Section  i.  All  ecclesiastical  power  herein 
granted,  to  make  or  repeal  any  rule  of  disci- 
pline, is  vested  in  a  general  conference,  which 
shall  consist  of  elders,  elected  by  the  members 
in  every  conference  district  throughout  the  so- 
ciety ;  provided,  however,  such  elders  shall 
have  stood  in  that  capacity  three  years,  in  the 
conference  district  to  which  they  belong. 

Sec.  2.  General  Conference  is  to  be  held 
every  four  years ;  the  bishops  to  be  considered 
members  and  presiding  officers. 


DISCIPLINE.  15 

Sec.  3.  Each  annual  conference  shall  place 
before  the  society  the  names  of  all  the  elders 
eligible  to  membership  in  the  General  Confer- 
ence. 

ARTICLE   II. 

Section  i.  The  General  Conference  shall 
define  the  boundaries  of  the  annual  confer- 
ences. 

Sec.  2.  The  General  Conference  shall,  at 
every  session,  elect  bishops  from  among  the 
elders  throughout  the  Church,  who  have  stood 
six  years  in  that  capacity. 

Sec.  3.  The  business  of  each  annual  con- 
ference shall  be  done  strictly  according  tff 
Discipline  ;  and  any  annual  conference  acting 
contrary  thereunto,  shall,  by  impeachment,  be 
tried  by  the  General  Conference. 

Sec.  4.  No  rule  or  ordinance  shall  at  any 
time  be  passed,  to  change  or  do  away  the  Con- 
fession of  Faith  as  it  now  stands,  nor  to  destroy 
the  itinerant  plan. 

Sec.  5.  There  shall  no  rule  be  adopted  that 
will  infringe  upon  the  rights  of  any  as  it  relates 
to  the  mode  of  baptism,  the  sacrament  of  the 
Lord's  supper,  or  the  washing  of  feet. 

Sec.  6.  There  shall  be  no  rule  made  that 
will  deprive  local  preachers  of  their  votes  in 


1 6  DISCIPLINE. 

the  annual  conferences  to  which  they  severally 
belong. 

Sec.  7.  There  shall  be  no  connection  with 
secret  combinations,  nor  shall  involuntary  serv- 
itude be  tolerated  in  any  way. 

Sec.  8.  The  right  of  appeal  shall  be  invio- 
late. 

ARTICLE    III. 

The  right,  title,  interest,  and  claim  of  all 
property,  whether  consisting  in  lots  of  ground, 
meeting-houses,  legacies,  bequests  or  dona- 
tions of  any  kind,  obtained  by  purchase  or 
otherwise,  by  any  person  or  persons,  for  the 
use,  benefit,  and  behoof  of  the  Church  of  the 
United  Brethren  in  Christ,  is  hereby  fully  rec- 
ognized and  held  to  be  the  property  of  the 
Church  aforesaid. 

ARTICLE  rv. 

There  shall  be  no  alteration  of  the  foregoing 
constitution,  unless  by  request  of  two  thirds  of 
the  whole  society. 

CHAPTER  IV.— MEMBERS. 

Section  I. 

Reception  of  Meiribers. 

Ques.  How  shall  members  be  taken  into  our 
church  ? 


DISCIPLINE.  17 

Ans.  When  at  any  meeting  a  person  makes 
known  a  desire  to  become  a  member  of  our 
church,  then  the  preacher  present  shall  pub- 
licly ask  such  person  the  following  questions : 

1.  Do  you  believe  the  Bible  to  be  the  word 
of  God  ? 

2.  Have  you  experienced  the  pardon  of  your 
sins,  and  are  you  determined  by  the  grace  of 
God  to  save  your  soul  ? 

3.  Are  you  willing  to  be  governed  by  our 
church  discipline  ? 

1.  If  the  person  answer  the  above  questions 
in  the  affirmative,  and  no  lawful  objections  be 
made  by  any  member  on  account  of  immoral 
conduct,  then  the  preacher  shall  give  his  right 
hand  to  such  person  as  a  member  of  our 
church,  and  record  the  name  on  the  church  or 
class  book  ;  but  so  long  as  any  person  can  not 
answer  the  above  questions  in  the  affirmative, 
such  person  shall  be  considered  under  the 
watch-care  of  the  Church,  but  shall  have  no 
vote  in  the  Church. 

2.  If  any  person  thus  leceived  under  the 
watch-care  of  the  Church  shall  cease  to  mani- 
fest a  desire  to  seek  the  Lord,  the  preacher  in 
charge,  by  the  consent  of  the  class,  can,  at  any 
time,  after  personal  labor  for  their  salvation  by 
the  preacher  in  charge  and  class-leader,  if  un- 

2 


1 8  DISCIPLINE. 

successful,  publicly   drop  the  name  of  such 
seeker. 

f  Section  II. 

Duties  of  Members. 

1.  All  members  of  this  society  shall  ac- 
knowledge and  confess  that  they  believe  the 
Bible  to  be  the  word  of  God  ;  that  they  will 
henceforth  strive,  with  all  their  hearts,  to  seek 
their  eternal  welfare  in  Christ  Jesus,  and  work 
out  their  salvation  with  fear  and  trembling,  to 
the  end  that  they  may  be  enabled  to  flee  from 
the  wrath  to  come. 

2.  Every  member  shall  endeavor  to  lead  a 
good  life  ;  attend  to  the  ordinances  of  God's 
house,  namely,  baptism  and  the  remembrance 
of  the  sufferings  and  death  of  our  Lord  Jesus 
Christ;  be  diligent  in  prayer,  particularly  in 
private,  and,  for  his  own  edification,  attend, 
when  practicable,  all  of  our  prayer  and  class 
meetings,  and  meetings  for  public  worship. 

3.  Heads  of  families  should  never  omit  to 
pray  with  their  families,  mornings  and  even- 
ings, and  set  them  a  good  example  in  all  the 
Christian  virtues. 

4.  Every  one  should  strive  to  walk  as  in  the 
presence  of  God  ;  also,  accustom  himself  to  a 


DISCIPLINE.  19 

close  communion  with  God  in  all  his  employ- 
ments, and  never  speak  evil  of  his  fellow-be- 
ings, but  practice  love  toward  friend  and  foe, 
do  good  to  the  poor,  and  endeavor  to  be  a  fol- 
lower of  Jesus  Christ  indeed. 

5.  Every  one  shall  keep  the  Sabbath-day 
holy,  as  required  in  the  word  of  God  ;  neither 
buy  nor  sell,  but  spend  the  same  in  exercises  of 
devotion,  in  reading  and  hearing  the  word  of 
God,  and  with  singing  spiritual  hymns  to  the 
honor  and  glory  of  God. 

6.  It  is  the  duty  of  every  member  to  lead  a 
quiet,  peaceable,  and  godly  life  among  men, 
as  it  becomes  a  Christian  to  live  in  peace,  and 
be  subject  to  the  higher  or  ruling  powers,  as 
the  word  of  God  requires. 

7.  It  shall  be  the  duty  of  all  our  members  to 
encourage  our  Sabbath-schools  by  their  pres- 
ence when  practicable,  and  always  lend  them 
their  aid  and  influence. 

8.  It  is  the  duty  of  all  members  of  the 
Church  to  pay  toward  the  support  of  the  itin- 
erant ministry,  quarterly,  or  oftener  if  needbe, 
in  proportion  to  their  ability,  as  God  has  pros- 
pered them;  for  the  Lord  hath  ordained  that 
they  who  preach  the  gospel  shall  live  by  the 
gospel.  ■  (I.  Cor.  ix.  14;  I.  Tim.  v.  18.) 

9.  Each  member  of  our  society  should  will- 


20  DISCIPLINE. 

ingly  and  freely  contribute  quarterly,  or  often- 
er,  if  need  be,  as  God  has  prospered  him  or 
her  (I.  Cor.  xvi.  2),  to  the  support  of  the  help- 
less poor. 

10.  When  it  is  known  by  any  of  our  class- 
leaders  that  there  are  poor  members  among 
them,  who  by  sickness,  accident,  or  other  una- 
voidable circumstances  have  been  brought  to 
want,  it  shall  be  the  duty  of  the  leader  in 
charge  to  go,  or  appoint  one  to  wait  upon  the 
class,  to  ask  alms,  money,  clothing,  orproduce, 
as  the  circumstances  may  require  ;  and  should 
any  one  class  be  too  poor  to  alleviate  its  poor, 
it  shall  then  be  made  known  to  the  pastor  in 
charge,  whose  duty  it  shall  be  to  inform  the  dif- 
ferent classes  on  his  charge  ;  and  if  it  should 
so  happen  that  any  one  charge  should  be  in- 
sufficient to  meet  the  wants  of  its  poor,  it  shall 
be  the  duty  of  the  presiding  elder  to  present 
the  matter  on  the  different  charges  at  their 
quarterly  conferences,  so  that  the  unavoida- 
bly poor  of  our  church  maybe  considered  and 
provided  for.     (I.  John,  iii.   17  ;    Ps.  xli.  i,  2,) 

11.  Inasmuch  as  the  Lord  has  commanded 
us  not  to  be  conformed  to  this  world  (Rom. 
xii.  2),  to  lay  apart  all  filthiness,  and  super- 
fluity of  naughtiness  (James  i.  21),  and  as  the 
principles  of  the  Christian  religion,  as  taught 


DISCIPLINE.  21 

both  by  the  precepts  and  example  of  the  meek 
and  adorable  Savior,  are  in  strict  and  perfect 
accordance  Avith  these  commandments,  we 
therefore  humbly  beseech  and  admonish  the 
members  of  our  church  to  observe  these  di- 
vine precepts.  In  like  manner  also  that  women 
adorn  themselves  in  modest  apparel,  with 
shamefacedness  and  sobriety  ;  not  with  braid- 
ed hair,  or  gold,  or  pearls,  or  costly  array, 
but  (which  becometh  women  professing  godli- 
ness) with  good  works  (I.  Tim.  ii.  9,  10)  ;  and 
whose  adorning  let  it  not  be  that  outward 
adorning  of  plaiting  the  hair,  and  of  wearing 
of  gold,  or  of  putting  on  of  apparel  ;  but  let  it 
be  the  hidden  man  of  the  heart,  in  that  which 
is  not  corruptible,  even  the  ornament  of  a  meek 
and  quiet  spirit,  which  is  in  the  sight  of  God 
of  great  price.     (I.  Peter,  iii.  3,  4.) 

The  foregoing  rules  are  drawn  up  for  the 
better  regulation  of  our  church  ;  and  we  be- 
lieve they  are  founded  in  the  word  of  God,  and 
incumbent  on  all  who  are  members  of  our 
church  to  observe.  Should  any  violate  or  ha- 
bitually neglect  these  rules,  they  shall  be,  by 
their  respective  class-leaders,  admonished  to 
reformation  ;  and  should  they  not  reform,  they 
shall  be  suspended  or  expelled,  as  the  case  may 
require. 


32  DISCIPLINE. 

It  is  the  advice  of  the  General  Conference 
that  all  districts,  stations,  circuits,  and  mis- 
sions cheerfully  receive  the  preachers  appoint- 
ed by  the  stationing  committee  of  the  respect- 
ive annual  conferences 

Section  III. 

Trial  of  Members. 

Ques.  What  shall  be  done  when  members 
tresspass  against  each  other  ? 

Ans.  "  If  thy  brother  shall  tresspass  against 
thee,  go  and  tell  him  his  fault  between  thee 
and  him  alone  :  if  he  shall  hear  thee,  thou 
hast  gained  thy  brother.  But  if  he  will  not 
hear  thee,  then  take  with  thee  one  or  two  more. 
And  if  he  shall  neglect  to  hear  them,  tell  it 
unto  the  church  :  but  if  he  neglect  to  hear  the 
church,  let  him  be  unto  thee  as  a  heathen  man 
and  a  publican;"  that  is,  he  shall  be  expelled 
as  in  other  cases  of  immorality. 

Ques.  What  shall  be  done  in  case  of  mem- 
bers accused  of  tresspass  or  immoral  conduct  ? 

Ans.  The  class  shall  appoint  one  or  more  to 
visit  the  accused  brother  or  sister,  and,  if  pos- 
sible, reclaim  him  or  her  ;  but  if  unsuccessful, 
he  or  she  shall  be  tried  by  the  class  to  which 
they  belong,  or  a  committee  thereof,  chosen 


DISCIPLINE.  23 

by  the  parties  concerned,  with  the  preacher  in 
charge  of  the  circuit  or  station,  who  shall  be 
chairman  ;  and  if  found  guilty,  the  accused 
shall  be  expelled,  unless  satisfaction  be  given 
by  an  expression  of  repentance  or  otherwise. 
If  the  accused  refuse  to  choose  his  committee- 
man, when  properly  notified,  the  quarterly 
conference  shall  choose  a  second  person,  and 
these  two  a  third,  which  committee  shall  try 
the  case  and  decide.  Yet  cases  may  happen 
where  it  would  be  expedient  to  choose  a  com- 
mittee from  any  other  class  or  classes  than  the 
one  to  which  the  parties  belong ;  also,  an 
elder  may  be  chosen  as  chairman,  should  the 
preacher  in  charge  deem  it  best  to  do  so.  But 
should  any  member  be  dissatisfied  with  the 
decision,  an  appeal  may  be  had  to  the  quarter- 
ly conference,  by  giving  notice  thereof  to  the 
preacher  in  charge  or  secretary  of  the  trial. 
(See  section  on  appeals.)  In  such  case,  how- 
ever, the  same  persons,  shall  not  sit  in  judg- 
ment on  the  same  case, 

Ques.  What  shall  be  done  in  cases  of  neg- 
lect of  duty  of  any  kind,  imprudent  conduct, 
indulging  sinful  tempers  or  words,  or  disobe- 
dience to  the  order  and  discipline  of  the 
Church  ? 

Ans.  First,  let  private  reproof  be  given  by 


24  DISCIPLINE. 

the  preacher  or  leader ;  and  if  there  be  an  ac- 
knowledgment of  the  fault,  and  proper  humili- 
ation, the  person  may  be  borne  with.  On  a 
second  offense,  the  preacher  or  leader  shall 
take  with  him  one  or  two  faithful  members. 
On  a  third  offense,  let  the  case  be  brought  be- 
fore the  Church  or  class,  or  a  select  committee  ; 
and  if  there  be  no  satisfactory  humiliation,  the 
offender  shall  be  expelled  by  vote  of  the  society. 

In  case  of  trial  under  this  clause,  the  leader 
shall  act  in  behalf  of  the  Church  ;  or  if  the 
leader  be  the  offender,  the  steward  shall  act  as 
prosecutor. 

Ques.  What  shall  be  done  in  case  of  dis- 
putes between  the  members  or  preachers  ? 

Ans.  The  preacher  to  whom  it  shall  be 
known  shall  inquire  into  the  circumstances  of 
the  case,  and  if  necessary,  shall  recommend  to 
the  contending  parties  a  reference,  consisting 
of  one  arbiter,  chosen  by  the  plaintiff,  and 
another  by  the  defendant,  and  a  third  by  these 
two  ;  then  these  three  are  to  decide.  But  if 
the  preacher  to  whom  the  dispute  is  known 
shall  refuse  or  neglect  to  act,  then  the  quar- 
terly conference  shall  appoint  one  to  carry 
out  the  rule  ;  and  if  either  or  both  disputants 
refuse  to  choose  an  arbiter,  the  quarterly  con- 
ference shall  appoint  the  first  and  second,  and 


DISCIPLINE.  25 

these  two  a  third,  who  shall  hear  the  case  and 
decide. 

But  if  either  be  dissatisfied  with  the  decision, 
such  may  have  a  right  to  an  appeal  to  the  next 
quarterly  conference  for  a  second  arbitration, 
where  each  party  shall  choose  two  arbiters, 
and  the  four  shall  choose  a  fifth,  a  decision  of 
the  majority  of  whom  shall  be  final.  Any 
person  refusing  to  abide  by  this  decision,  and 
every  member  refusing,  in  case  of  debt  or  dis- 
pute, to  refer  the  matter  to  arbitration  when 
recommended  to  him  by  a  preacher  or  leader, 
or  who  shall  enter  into  a  lawsuit  with  another 
member  before  these'' measures  are  taken, 
shall  be  expelled  without  further  process,  and 
his  or  her  name  be  so  recorded  upon  the 
church-record  by  the  preacher  in  charge,  or 
the  class-leader,  except  when  the  case  is  of 
such  a  nature  as  to  require  and  justify  a  proc- 
ess at  law,  as  executors  or  administrators,  or 
when  a  member  is  in  danger  of  suffering  an 
unexpected  loss  of  property. 

Every  class-leader  shall  keep  a  record  of  the 
proceedings  of  church  trials,  deaths,  expul- 
sions, and  removals,  in  a  book  provided  for 
that  purpose  ;  and  it  shall  be  his  duty,  in  case 
of  an  appeal,  to  furnish  his  record  to  the  quar- 
terly conference. 


26  DISCIPLINE. 

All  church  trials  shall  be  conducted  in  a 
consistent  Christian  manner,  without  the  em- 
ployment of  magistrates  and  attorneys  to  ad- 
minister oaths  and  conduct  investigations. 

Section  IV. 

Dismission  of  Members. 

When  members  of  our  society  move  from 
one  field  of  labor  to  another  they  shall  obtain 
a  certificate,  by  a  vote  of  a  majority  of  the 
class  to  which  they  belong  signed  by  a 
preacher  or  leader,  except  where  they  are  not 
in  reach  of  a  class,  in  which  case  any  of  our 
preachers  may  give  a  certificate  to  such  per- 
sons if  they  are  known  to  be  in  good  standing. 

Form  of  Certificate  of  Membership. 

This  is  to  certify  that  A.  B.  is  a  member  of 
good  standing  in  the   Church   of  the  United 

Brethren  in  Christ,  at  ,  and  is  hereby 

recommended  to  the  confidence  and  fellowship 
of  Christians  everywhere. 

[Dates,  etc.] 

Form  of  Certificate  of  Dismission. 

This  is  to  certify  that  A.  B.  has  been  until 
this  date  a  member  in  good  standing  in   the 


DISCIPLINE.  27 

Church  of  the  United  Brethren  in  Christ,  at 

,  and  at request  is  dismissed  from 

the  Church  by  a  vote  of  the  class. 

Pastor. 

[Dates,  etc.] 

CHAPTER   v.— GOVERNMENT    OF   THE 
CHURCH. 

Section    I. 

Classes. 

1.  A  class  shall  consist  of  three  or  more 
members,  who  shall  annually  elect  one  mem- 
ber from  their  own  dr  some  other  class,  who 
shall  be  called  their  leader,  and  shall  be  elect- 
ed before  the  ensuing  annual  conference. 

2.  Classes  shall  be  divided  by  a  committee, 
consisting  of  the  preacher  in  charge  and  one 
or  more  brethren,  elected  by  the  Church  at 
any  place  where  it  may  be  deemed  necessary. 
Each  class  so  formed  shall  have  the  power  of 
electing  its  own  leader,  and  shall  be  consid- 
ered as  having  all  the  rights  and  privileges  of 
separate  classes. 

3.  In  case  it  becomes  impracticable  to  keep 
up  an  organization  by  the  election  of  class  of- 
ficers, the  members  at  such  place  shall  be  re- 


^ 


28  DISCIPLINE. 

quired  to  join  the  nearest  class  within  six 
months ;  and  any  one  failing  to  do  so  may  be 
dropped. 

Section  II. 

Duties  of  a  Leader. 

1.  It  shall  be  his  duty  to  meet  his  class,  in 
class  or  prayer  meeting,  at  least  once  a  week, 
to  speak  to  them  concerning  the  spiritual  wel- 
fare of  their  souls,  and  exhort  them  to  unity 
and  love.  He  shall  extend  the  freedom  of  our 
prayer  and  class  meetings  to  all  sincere  and 
well-disposed  persons  who  may  desire  to  at- 
tend them. 

2.  It  shall  be  his  duty  to  lead  a  pious  life 
and  set  a  godly  example  before  his  class  ;  care- 
fully study  the  Holy  Scriptures,  fully  qualify- 
ing himself  for  the  faithful  performance  of  his 
duties  as  leader  and  counselor  of  his  class. 
When  any  of  his  members  are  sick  or  delin- 
quent in  the  performance  of  any  of  their  du- 
ties as  Christians  he  shall  visit  them,  pray  or 
otherwise  labor  with  them,  as  circumstances 
may  require. 

Any  class-leader  failing  to  discharge  these 
duties  may,  on  complaint,  be  removed  by  the 
quarterly  conference. 


DISCIPLIKE.        ,  29 

Section  III.,'' 
Stewards  and  their  Duties. 

Every  class  shall  annually  elect  (or,  if  the 
class  prefer  it,  the  preachteij  may  a|)point)  one 
who  shall  be  called  class-ste\varft. 

Ques.  What  are  the  dil^es  df/a  steward  ? 

A71S.  I.  He  shall  c::^llect<|Liarterly  contri- 
butions, or  oftenenthan  qLiaa-.<^vlv,  iT  needed, 
for  the  support  of  t.ae  traveling  preachers.  He 
shall  keep  an  accuiv^te-  aceount  of  the^mount 
paid  by  each  member  of  the  class,  in  a  book 
provided  for  that  purpose,  and  report  the  same 
to  each  quarterly  conference  or  official  meet- 
ing. 

2.  It  shall  also  be  his  duty  to  provide  the 
elements  for  sacrament. 

3.  For  the  faithful  discharge  of  his  duties 
as  steward  of  his  class,  h^  shall  be  account- 
able to  the  quarterly  conference,  which  shall 
have  power  to  dismiss  him  for  official  delin- 
quency. 

Section  IV. 

Official  Meetings  for  Stations 

Ques.  I.  Who  are  the  members  of  the  offi- 
cial meeting? 


30  DISCIPLINE. 

Ans.  I.  All  the  properly  recognized  mem- 
bers of  the  quarterly  conference. 

2.  The  preacher  in  charge  shall  be  the 
president  of  the  meeting ;  and  in  his  absence 
one  of  the  members  shall  be  elected  president 
/>ro  tern. 

Qiies.  2.  What  is  the  business  of  the  offi- 
cial meeting  ? 

Ans.  I.  Th^  g^esident  shall  call  the  meet- 
ing to  oydeiT'and  ]>egin  and  conclude  with 
prayer. 

2.  To  elect  a  secretary^  who  shall  make  a 
record  of  all  the  proceedings  of  the  meeting. 

3.  To  elect  a  treasurer,  whose  duty  it  shall 
be  to  receive  all  moneys  from  stewards  that 
have  been  collected,  and  receiptfherefor  ;  and 
said  treasurer  shall  pay  out  all  moneys  in  his 
hands  as  the  official  meeting  may  direct. 

4.  To  receive  a  statement  from  each  class- 
leader  in  reference  to  the  prosperity  of  re- 
ligion in  his  class. 

5.  This  body  shall  meet  once  a  month, 
and  may  meet  oftener  if  circumstances  re- 
quire. 

6.  It  shall  be  the  duty  of  the  official  meet* 
ing  to  receive  all  reports  of  subscriptions,  and 
moneys  collected  and  disbursed  for  the  inter- 
est of  the  station;  and  all  persons  intrusted 


DISCIPLINE.  31 

with  subscriptions  or  moneys  shall  report  the 
same  to  the  meeting  as  soon  as  possible. 

7.  It  shall  be  the  duty  of  the  official  meet- 
ing to  submit  its  doings  to  the  quarterly  con- 
ference for  examination  and  approval. 

Section  V. 
Quarterly  Conference. 

Ques.  I.  Who  are  the  members  of  the 
quarterly  conference  ? 

A71S.  The  presiding  elder  of  the  district, 
the  preacher  in  charge,  and  all  the  properly 
recognized  preachers,  exhorters,  leaders, 
stewards,  and  trustees  of  meeting  and  parson- 
age houses,  and  superintendents  of  Sabbath- 
schools  (when  said  trustees  and  superinten- 
dents are  members  of  the  Church  of  the 
United  Brethren  in  Christ),  who  reside  within 
the  bounds  of  the  circuit,  station,  or  mission, 
or  hold  membership  therein. 

Ques.  2.  What  is  the  business  of  the  quar- 
terly conference  ? 

Afis.  I.  In  the  absence  of  the  presiding 
elder,  the  quarterly  conference  shall  elect  a 
chairman /ri7  tefn.,  whose  official  acts  shall  be 
valid. 

2.     To  elect  a  secretary,  whose  duty  it  shall 


32  DISCIPLINE. 

be  to  keep  a  correct  record  of  all  their  pro- 
ceedings in  a  book  provided  for  that  purpose, 
in  which  the  names  of  all  the  members  com- 
posing the  said  conference  shall  be  entered. 

3.  To  make  inquiry  into  the  moral  deport- 
ment and  official  character  of  all  its  members. 

4.  To  receive  and  try  all  appeals,  refer- 
ences, and  complaints  that  may  come  regularly 
before  it;  but  no  member  of  quarterly  confer- 
ence can  be  suspended  or  expelled  from  the 
Church  prior  to  a  committee  trial.  When  a 
quarterly-conference  preacher  or  exhorter  is 
accused  of  any  misdemeanor,  he  shall  be  tried 
by  a  committee  of  three,  of  which  the  accused 
shall  choose  one  and  the  quarterly  conference 
a  second,  and  these  two  a  third,  to  try  the  case. 
If  the  accused  refuse  or  neglect  to  choose  his 
committee-man  after  being  properly  notified, 
the  quarterly  conference  shall  choose  a  first 
and  second  person,  and  these  two  a  third,  who 
shall  hear  the  case  and  decide ;  and  if  the  ac- 
cused is  found  guilty  he  shall  be  silenced  ;  pro- 
vided, however,  either  party  shall  have  the 
right  of  appeal  to  the  next  quarterly  conference 
for  a  new  trial. 

5.  To  grant  license  to  exhort  or  preach  to 
such  as  may  have  been  recommended  by  at 
least  two  thirds  of  the  class  (in  each  case  a 


DISCIPLINE.  33 

recommendation  must  be  obtained)  of  which 
they  may  be  members ;  provided,  however, 
that  none  shall  receive  license  who  can  not 
give  satisfactory  evidence  of  their  call,  expe- 
rience, soundness  in  doctrine,  and  attachment 
to  our  church  and  government.  All  applicants 
for  quarterly-conference  license  to  preach 
shall  be  examined  b}'-  quarterly  conference 
according  to  Section  II.,  Chapter  VL,  of  Dis- 
cipline. 

6.  To  make  settlement  with  the  stewards 
and  traveling  preachers. 

7.  To  enforce  discipline  in  all  the  classes 
under  its  jurisdiction  ;  but  in  no  case  to  disor- 
ganize a  class  unless  the  preliminary  steps 
have  been  taken  as  required  in  Section  I., 
Chapter  V.,  of  Discipline. 

8.  To  renew  the  license  of  exhorters  and 
quarterly-conference  licensed  preachers,  an- 
nually, if  they  be  found  worthy,  and  to  ar- 
range a  plan  for  the  local  preachers  to  preach 
regularly  at  stated  places,  as  the  quarterly  con- 
ference may  direct. 

9.  After  such  licentiate  preachers  have 
stood  in  that  capacity  one  or  more  years,  the 
quarterly  conference  may  recommend  them  to 
the  annual  conference. 

10.  All  preachers  recommended  to  the  an- 

i 


34  DISCIPLINE. 

nual  conference,  and  not  received,  may  sus- 
tain their  former  relation. 

II.  The  quarterly  conference,  at  its  last 
session  in  each  year,  shall  appoint  a  steward 
for  the  charge,  whose  duty  it  shall  be  to  as- 
sist the  class-stewards  to  secure  the  preacher's 
salary  ;  also,  an  estimating  committee  for  the 
ensuing  year,  which  committee  shall  meet  at 
the  time  and  place  specified  by  the  preacher 
appointed  to  the  charge  for  the  ensuing  year 
and  make  out  an  estimate  of  the  regular  ex- 
penses of  the  circuit,  station,  or  mission,  and 
apportion  the  same  among  the  different  ap- 
pointments according  to  their  several  abilities, 
reporting  the  same  to  the  quarterly  conference 
for  ratification. 

Each  class,  after  receiving  its  apportionment, 
shall  as  soon  as  convenient,  on  the  call  of  the 
leader  or  steward,  hold  a  meeting  and  appoint 
a  committee  whose  duty  it  shall  be  to  make  a 
dividend  of  the  apportionment  to  each  mem- 
ber thereof  according  to  his  or  her  ability,  to 
be  paid  quarterly  or  monthly;  provided,  how- 
ever, that  it  shall  be  the  privilege  of  any  class 
to  collect  the  amount  apportioned  to  it  by  sub- 
scription or  otherwise. 

Ques.  3.  How  are  preachers  from  other 
societies  received  ? 


DISCIPLINE.  35 

Ans.  If  they  come  to  us  with  certificates  of 
good  standing  in  the  society  in  which  they 
have  had  membership,  and  give  satisfaction 
to  the  quarterly  conference  on  examination  on 
the  doctrine,  discipHne,  government,  and 
usages  of  our  church,  then  the  quarterly  con- 
ference may  license  them,  with  the  under- 
standing that  the  quarterly  conference  rela- 
tion continue  for  at  least  one  year,  (provided, 
that  an  elder,  ordained  by  the  laying  on  of 
hands,  coming  to  us  shall  be  allowed  to  per- 
form the  functions  of  an  elder  during  his  pro- 
bation,) after  which,  if  their  conduct  and  doc- 
trine be  in  accordance  with  the  gospel  of 
Christ,  they  may  be  received  into  the  annual 
conference  as  preachers,  or  elders,  as  the  case 
may  be. 

Qties.  4.  What  directions  are  necessary  in 
case  of  appeals  ? 

Ans.  Any  exhorter  or  preacher,  dissatisfied 
with  the  decision  of  a  quarterly  conference, 
shall  within  thirty  days  after  the  quarterly 
conference,  notify  the  secretary,  in  writing,  of 
his  intention  to  appeal,  together  with  his  rea- 
sons for  so  doing  ;  and  it  shall  be  the  duty  of 
the  secretary  to  take  or  send  a  certified  copy 
of  the  proceedings,  the  notification,  and  rea- 
sons assigned,  to  the  annual  conference. 


36  DISCIPLINE. 

In  all  cases  of  appeal,  whether  to  the  quar- 
terly, annual,  or  General  Conference,  the 
course  laid  down  in  this  section  on  appeals  is 
the  proper  course  to  be  pursued. 

Ques.  5.  Where  shall  our  next  quarterly 
conference  be  held  ? 

Ques^  6.  Is  there  anything  more  to  be 
done  ? 

All  exhorters  and  quarterly-conference 
preachers  are  required  to  join  some  conven- 
ient class,  and  upon  neglect  or  refusal  to  do 
so  shall  lose  their  official  relation. 

It  shall  also  be  the  duty  of  the  quarterly  con- 
ference to  open  and  close  with  prayer. 

All  itinerant  and  local  preachers  are  re- 
quired to  join  some  class. 

Section  VI. 

Annual  Confere7ice. 

Ones.  I.  Who  are  the  members  of  this  con- 
ference ? 

Ans.  All  the  elders  and  licentiate  preach- 
ers who  have  been  duly  received  by  the  con- 
ference ;  provided,  first :  That  any  annual  con- 
ference may  receive  into  its  body  one  layman 
from  every  charge  in  its  bounds  whenever  two 


DISCIPLINE.  37 

thirds  of  its  members  shall,  in  a  regular  an- 
nual session,  decide  so  to  do,  notice  of  such 
vote  to  be  given  twenty-four  hours  before  the 
the  time.  Second  :  When  an  annual  confer- 
ence has  adopted  lay  representation,  it  shall 
provide  for  the  appointment  of  such  lay  rep- 
resentatives by  such  methods  as  in  its  wisdom 
it  may  deem  best.  Third  :  The  laymen  thus 
chosen  shall  have  all  the  privileges  and  rights 
of  ministers  in  the  annual  conference,  except 
the  right  to  vote  for  the  reception  or  expulsion 
of  preachers,  the  passing  of  preachers  in  the 
course  of  reading,  and  the  right  to  vote  for 
presiding  elders. 

Ques.  2.  In  what  manner  are  the  transac- 
tions of  a  conference  to  be  conducted  ? 

Ans.  I.  A  portion  of  Scripture  shall  be 
read  ;  also,  singing  and  prayer  each  day,  at 
the  opening  and  at  the  closing  of  confer- 
ence. 

2.  The  conference  shall  elect  two  secreta- 
ries, one  German  and  one  English,  wherever 
it  may  be  necessary,  one  of  whom  shall  im- 
mediately on  the  adjournment  of  the  annual 
conference  transmit  to  the  publishing  agent 
at  Dayton,  Ohio,  a  true  transcript  of  the  foot- 
ings of  the  conference  chart.  If  no  bishop 
should  be  present,  it  shall  be  the  duty  of  the 


38  DISCIPLINE. 

annual  conference  to  elect  a  bishop  pro  te?n.^ 
whose  official  acts  shall  be  valid. 

3.  The  preachers  shall  be  examined  respect- 
ing their  deportment  toward  their  fellow-beings, 
whether  their  conduct  in  life  be  blameless,  and 
whether  they  employ  as  much  time  as  practi- 
cable to  promote  the  kingdom  of  God  (accord- 
ing to  Titus,  I  St  chapter,  7th  to  9th  verse,  and 
II.  Tim.,  2d  chapter,  15th  verse),  and  if  found 
delinquent,  shall  be  admonished  or  advised, 
as  the  case  may  require.  But  should  all  ad- 
monition or  advice  fail,  then  the  name  of  the 
delinquent  person  shall  be  erased  from  the 
minutes  of  the  conference. 

4.  Should  any  member  of  the  annual  con- 
ference absent  himself  from  the  session  of  con- 
ference three  years  in  succession,  without  giv- 
ing a  satisfactory  reason  for  so  doing,  his 
name  may  be  erased  from  the  minutes  of  the 
conference.. 

5.  No  preacher  shall  be  permitted  to  elec- 
tioneer favorably  to  his  own  election  to  any 
office  or  delegation  in  the  Church  ;  and  should 
any  one  be  found  doing  so,  he  shall  be  ac- 
countable to  the  next  annual  conference  of 
which  he  is  a  member,  to  be  dealt  with  accord- 
ing to  the  judgment  of  said  conference. 

The  following  questions  shall  also  be  asked  . 


DISCIPLINE.  39 

1.  Have  any  of  the  preachers  died  during 
the  last  year  ? 

2.  Who  are  candidates  for  the  ministry  ? 

3.  Are  any  to  be  ordained  to  the  office  of 
elder  ? 

4.  What  has  been  collected  for  contingent 
expenses  and  the  salary  of  traveling  preach- 
ers ? 

5.  What  has  been  done  for  missions  ? 

6.  What  has  been  done  for  Sabbath- 
schools  ? 

7.  Has  reckoning  been  made  with  the  trav- 
eling preachers  ? 

8.  Who  are  the  presiding  elders  ? 

9.  Where  are  the  preachers  stationed  this 
year? 

10.  Where  shall  our  next  conference  be 
held? 

11.  Is  there  anything  else  to  be  done  ? 

12.  Is  all  that  has  been  done  entered  upon 
record  ? 

Section  VII. 
General  Conference. 

Ques.  I .  Who  are  the  members  of  the  Gen- 
eral Conference  ?    {^See  constitution.) 


40  DISCIPLINE. 

Ques.  2.  What  shall  be  the  number  of  del- 
egates to  the  General  Conference  ? 

Ans.  Three  from  each  annual-conference 
district. 

Ques.  3.     How  are  they  to  be  elected  ? 

Ans.  I.  It  shall  be  the  duty  of  each  annual 
conference  to  appoint  a  committee  of  three  to 
receive  and  count  the  votes,  and  immediately 
apprise  those  who  may  have  been  elected ; 
also  to  furnish  each  preacher  in  charge  with  a 
list  of  the  names  of  all  the  elders  eligible. 

2.  The  leader  and  steward  of  each  class 
shall  constitute  a  board  of  election,  who  shall 
be  furnished  a  copy  of  the  above  named  list, 
by  the  preacher  in  charge,  at  least  ten  months 
before  the  sitting  of  the  General  Conference ; 
and  the  election  shall  be  held  invariably  in 
the  month  of  November  next  preceding  the 
sitting  of  said  conference. 

3.  It  shall  be  the  duty  of  each  board  of 
election  to  appoint  a  meeting  of  the  members 
of  their  respective  classes  or  churches,  as  the 
case  may  be,  for  the  purpose  of  electing,  by 
ballot,  their  delegates  to  represent  them  in 
General  Conference. 

Should  any  member  be  incapacitated  by 
age  or  affliction  to  attend  such  meetings,  and 
should  any  minister  be  absent  on  his  charge, 


DISCIPLINE.  41 

they  may  send  their  ballots  containing  the 
names  of  their  choice,  and  their  own  names 
signed  on  the  back  of  their  ballots;  provided, 
no  votes  shall  be  counted  except  those  cast  at 
the  appointed  meetings. 

4.  It  shall  be  the  duty  of  each  board  of 
election  invariably  to  sign,  inclose,  and  seal 
each  bill  of  election,  and  keep  a  correct  record 
of  the  same,  also  of  all  members  voting,  and 
immediately  transmit  a  copy  of  such  bill, 
stating  what  class,  circuit,  mission,  or  station, 
to  the  committee  appointed  by  the  annual 
conference. 

5.  Said  committee  shall  make  out  a  list  of 
all  the  persons  voted  for,  and  of  the  number 
of  votes  for  each.  And  should  any  two  or 
more  of  the  candidates  have  an  equal  number 
of  votes,  the  committee  shall  determine,  by 
lot,  which  of  them  is  elected.  They  shall  also 
forward,  by  the  first  of  February,  the  names 
of  those  elected  to  the  Conference  Printing 
Establishment  for  publication ;  and  if  one  or 
more  of  those  elected  should  be  prevented,  by 
death,  sickness,  or  otherwise,  from  attending, 
it  shall  be  the  duty  of  the  tellers  to  notify 
the  next  highest  on  the  bill  to  take  his  place ; 
and  so  descend,  if  need  be,  to  the  last  candi- 
date.   All  bills   of  election   received  by  the 


42  DISCIPLINE. 

tellers  after  the  first  of  January  shall  not  be 
counted. 

6.  It  shall  be  the  duty  of  each  presiding 
elder  to  furnish  each  preacher  in  charge  on 
his  district  with  blank  bills  of  election,  the 
same  to  be  distributed  by  said  preachers  to 
their  respective  boards  of  election. 

Ques.  4.  How  shall  the  expenses  of  the 
delegates  to  the  General  Conference  be  de- 
frayed ? 

Ans.  The  annual  conference  next  preced- 
ing the  election  of  delegates  to  the  General 
Conference  shall  ascertain  the  amount  of 
money  that  will  be  necessary  to  defray  the 
expenses  of  its  delegates  to  General  Confer- 
ence, and  apportion  the  same  among  its  dif- 
ferent fields  of  labor ;  and  the  preacher  in 
charge  shall  collect  and  forward  such  amount 
to  the  presiding  elder  of  his  district,  who 
shall  transmit  such  amount  to  the  tellers  by 
the  first  of  February  preceding  the  General 
Conference,  Should  any  preacher  neglect  his 
duty,  he  shall  be  accountable  therefor  to  the 
next  annual  conference. 

It  shall  be  the  duty  of  the  General  Confer- 
ence to  examine  the  administration  of  each 
annual  conference,  whether  it  has  strictly  ob- 
served the  rules  and  preserved  the  moral  and 


DISCIPLINE.  43 

doctrinal  principles  of  the  Discipline  in  all  its 
transactions. 

In  the  election  of  all  officers  of  the  General 
Conference,  a  majority  of  all  the  votes  shall 
be  necessary  to  a  choice. 

CHAPTER  VI.— MINISTRY  OF  THE 
CHURCH. 

Section   I 

Exhorters. 

Ques.     How  are  exhorters  received? 

Ans.  Any  person  wishing  to  obtain  license 
to  exhort  must  obtain  from  the  class  of  which 
he  is  a  member,  by  a  vote  of  two  thirds  of  the 
members,  a  recommendation  in  writing,  sign- 
ed by  the  leader,  or  preacher  in  charge,  to  the 
quarterly  conference  of  the  circuit,  station,  or 
mission  to  which  he  belongs. 

Ques.     What  are  the  duties  of  exhorters  ? 

Ans.  To  make  appointments  wherever  ac- 
ceptable to  the  people  ;  read  portions  of  sa- 
cred scripture,  exhorting  therefrom ;  exhorting 
saints,  that  they  with  purpose  of  heart  should 
cleave  to  the  Lord,  and  sinners  to  flee  from 


44  DISCIPLINE. 

the  wrath  to  come ;  and  this  they  shall  do  as 
often  as  practicable. 

The  license  of  an  exhorter  is  subject  to  re- 
newal annually,  at  the  discretion  of  the  quar- 
terly conference. 

Section  II. 
Quarterly-  Conference  Preachers. 

Ques.  How  are  quarterly-conference  preach- 
ers received  ? 

Ans.  Any  person  wishing  to  obtain  license 
to  preach  must  obtain  from  the  class  of  which 
he  is  a  member,  by  a  vote  of  two  thirds  of  the 
members,  a  recommendation  in  writing,  sign- 
ed by  the  leader  or  preacher,  to  the  quarterly 
conference  of  the  circuit,  station,  or  mission 
to  which  he  belongs  ;  provided,  That  the  per- 
son making  application  shall  be  examined  by 
the  quarterly  conference,  and  the  following 
questions  asked  by  the  chairman: 

1.  Do  you  believe  in  our  confession  of 
faith  as  taught  in  our  book  of  Discipline  ? 

2.  Have  you  now  peace  with  God  through 
our  Lord  Jesus  Christ  ? 

3.  What  is  your  motive  in  desiring  permis- 
sion to  preach  the  gospel  ? 


DISCIPLINE.  45 

4.  Are  you  satisfied  with  our  church  govern- 
ment? 

5.  Will  you  submit  yourself  to  the  counsel 
of  your  brethren  ? 

6.  What  is  your  knowledge  of  depravity,  of 
redemption,  of  faith,  of  repentance,  of  justi- 
fication, and  of  sanctification  ? 

It  shall  be  the  privilege  of  the  chairman  to 
ask  any  other  question  or  questions  that  he 
may  deem  necessary. 

Quarterly-conference  licensed  preachers  are 
recommended  to  pursue  the  same  course  of 
study  required  of  annual-conference  licenti- 
ates. 

The  license  of  a  quarterly-conference  preach- 
er is  subject  to  renewal  annually,  at  the  discre- 
tion of  the  quarterly  conference. 

After  such  licentiate  preachers  have  stood  in 
that  capacity  one  or  more  years,  the  quarterly 
conference  may  recommend  them  to  the  an- 
nual conference. 

All  preachers  recommended  to  the  annual 
conference,  and  not  received,  may  sustain  theii 
former  relation. 


46  DISCIPLINE. 

Section  III. 

Annual  Conference  Preachers. 

Ques.  How  are  preachers  received  ? 

Ans.  Every  person  proposed  as  a  preachei 
shall  be  examined  by  the  annual  conference 
or  a  select  committee  thereof;  and  the  follow- 
ing questions  shall  be  asked  him  : 

1.  Have  you  known  God  in  Christ  Jesus  to 
be  a  sin-pardoning  God  ? 

2.  Have  you  now  peace  with  God ;  and  is 
the  love  of  God  shed  abroad  in  your  heart  by 
the  Holy  Spirit  ? 

3.  Do  you  believe  the  Bible  to  be  the  word 
of  God,  and  that  theirein  is  contained  the  only 
true  way  to  our  salvation  ? 

4.  What  foundation  have  you  for  such  be- 
lief? 

5.  Do  you  follow  after  holiness  ? 

6.  What  is  your  motive  for  desiring  permis- 
sion to  preach  the  gospel  ? 

7.  Do  you  believe  that  man,  apart  from  the 
grace  of  our  Lord  Jesus  Christ,  is  fallen  from 
original  righteousness,  and  is  not  only  entirely 
destitute  of  holiness,  but  is  inclined  to  evil, 
and  only  evil,  and  that  continually ;  and  that 


DISCIPLINE.  47 

except  a  man  be  born  again  he  can  not  see  the 
kingdom  of  God  ? 

8.  What  is  your  knowledge  of  redemption, 
of  faith,  of  repentance,  justification,  and  sanc- 
tification  ? 

9.  Does  your  own  salvation,  and  the  salva- 
tion of  your  fellow-mortals,  lie  nearer  to  your 
heart  than  all  other  things  in  the  world  ? 

10.  Will  you  subject  yourself  to  the  counsel 
of  your  brethren  ? 

11.  Are  you  satisfied  with  our  Church  gov- 
ernment ? 

12.  Are  you  willing,  as  much  as  is  in  your 
power,  to  assist  in  upholding  the  itinerant 
plan? 

None  can  be  admitted  without  having  a 
recommendation  from  the  quarterly  confer- 
ence, and  then  only  to  be  received  on  proba- 
tion ;  but  if  conference  should,  on  examination, 
find  that  his  abilities  are  insufficient  to  preach 
the  gospel,  it  may  refer  him  back  to  the  quar- 
terly conference,  for  further  instruction. 

When  a  preacher  or  elder  has  been  expelled 
from  one  annual  conference,  he  shall  not  be 
received  into  another  without  the  consent  of 
the  conference  from  which  he  has  been  ex- 
pelled. 

A  preacher  removing  from  one  conference 


48  DISCIPLINE. 

to  another  shall,  when  he  applies  to  another 
for  admission,  produce  a  transfer  from  the  con- 
ference to  which  he  formerly  belonged,  signed 
by  the  presiding  officer,  or  published  in  the 
minutes  of  the  conference  from  which  he  has 
been  transferred. 

A  preacher  or  elder  who  receives  a  transfer 
is  required  to  present  said  transfer  to  another 
conference,  or  return  it  to  the  conference  by 
which  it  was  issued,  within  eighteen  months 
after  its  date.  Otherwise  the  transfer  shall  be 
null  and  void,  and  the  name  of  the  preacher 
shall  be  published  as  no  longer  connected  with 
the  Church  as  a  minister. 

Provided,  preachers  taking  transfers  to  the 
Pacific  coast  shall  be  allowed  two  years  in 
which  to  present  their  transfers. 

A  preacher  or  elder  receiving  a  transfer 
shall  be  a  member  of  the  quarterly  conference 
in  whose  bounds  he  may  reside,  and  also  be 
accountable  for  his  moral  and  official  conduct 
to  the  annual  conference  granting  said  trans- 
fer until  his  transfer  be  received  by  the  con- 
ference to  which  he  has  been  transferred. 


DISCIPLINE.  49 

Section  IV. 
Receptio7i  of  Preachers  from  Other  Churches. 

Ques.  How  are  preachers  from  other  soci- 
eties received  ? 

Ans.  If  they  come  to  us  with  certificates  of 
good  standing  in  the  society  in  which  they 
have  had  membership,  and  give  satisfaction 
to  the  quarterly  conference  on  examination  on 
the  doctrine,  discipline,  government,  and  us- 
ages of  our  church,  then  the  quarterly  confer- 
ence may  license  them,  with  the  understand- 
ing that  the  quarterly-conference  relation  con- 
tinue for  at  least  one  year  (provided,  that  an  eld- 
er, ordained  by  the  laying  on  of  hands,  coming 
to  us  shall  be  allowed  to  perform  the  functions 
of  an  elder  during  his  probation),  after  which, 
if  their  conduct  and  doctrine  be  in  accordance 
with  the  gospel  of  Christ,  they  maybe  received 
into  the  annual  conference  as  preachers  or 
elders,  as  the  case  may  be. 

All  ordained  elders  of  other  denominatioi 

who  may  join  our  church  as  such  must  pass 

the    examination  required  of  candidates  for 

elders'  orders  given  in  the  following  section  ; 

but  they  may  be  exempt  from  the  laying  on  of 

hands. 

i 


50  DISCIPLINE. 

Section  V. 
Election  of  Elders. 

Ques.     How  is  an  elder  constituted  ? 

Ans.  After  a  probation  of  three  years,  a 
preacher  may  be  presented  to  the  annual  con- 
ference ;  whereupon  the  bishop  shall  propose 
to  conference  the  following  questions : 

Ques.  I.  Is  he  blameless  touching  the  mar- 
riage state  ? 

2.  Is  his  deportment  in  the  social  circle 
marked  with  watchful  sobriety  ? 

3.  Is  he  hospitable  toward  the  afflicted  and 
needy  ? 

4.  Is  he  faithful  in  the  public  ministration 
of  God's  word,  and  diligent  in  reading  and 
study  ? 

5.  Is  his  household  subject  to  rules  of  pi- 
ety ? 

Should  the  above  questions  be  answered  in 
the  affirmative,  a  committee  of  three  or  five 
elders  shall  be  appointed,  before  whom  the 
candidate  shall  appear,  and  answer  to  the  fol- 
lowing questions,  namely : 

Ques.  I.  Upon  what  foundation  do  you 
believe  the  Bible  to  be  the  word  of  God  ? 

2.  How  do  you  prove  the  fall  of  mam  by 
transgression  ? 


DISCIPLINE.  51 

3.  How  do  you  prove  the  redemption  of 
man  by  Jesus  Christ  ? 

4.  Do  you  believe  in  the  godhead  of  Jesus 
Christ  ? 

5.  What  foundation  have  you  for  such  a 
belief? 

6.  Do  you  believe  in  the  Holy  Ghost  as 
presented  in  our  confession  of  faith  ? 

7.  Upon  what  evidence  do  you  believe 
this? 

8.  Do  you  believe  in  future,  everlasting 
punishment  ? 

It  shall  be  the  privilege  of  the  committee, 
in  the  close,  to  propose  any  question  touch- 
ing the  answers  given,  wherein  their  under- 
standing may  not  have  been  distinct.  It 
shall  also  be  their  duty  to  make  out,  sign, 
and  deliver  to  conference  a  report  of  each 
case  which  may  have  been  before  them. 
Whereupon,  by  a  majority  of  the  votes  of  the 
elders  of  conference,  said  candidates  may  be 
elected  to  ordination.  All  ordained  elders  of 
other  denominations,  who  may  join  our 
church  as  such,  must  pass  the  above  exami- 
nation ;  but  they  m.ay  be  exempt  from  the 
laying  on  of  hands  ;  yet,  circumstances  de- 
manding it,  a  licentiate  may  be  presented  to 
conference  for  ordination  at  any  time  prior  to 


52  DISCIPLINE. 

a  probation    of   three    years,    provided    two 
thirds  of  the  elders  present  vote  for  the  same. 

Section  VI. 
Ordination  of  Elders. 

1.  On  the  day  appointed  there  shall  be  a 
suitable  sermon  delivered. 

2.  After  their  names  have  been  read  aloud, 
the  bishop  or  elder  shall  read  the  following 
articles  to  all  who  may  be  chosen  for  ordina- 
tion : 

An  elder  "  must  be  blameless,  as  the  steward 
of  God ;  not  self-willed,  not  soon  angry,  not 
given  to  wine,  no  striker,  not  given  to  filthy 
lucre ;  but  a  lover  of  hospitality,  a  lover  of 
good  men,  sober,  just,  holy,  temperate;  hold- 
ing fast  the  faithful  word  as  he  hath  been 
taught,  that  he  may  be  able  by  sound  doc- 
trine both  to  exhort  and  convince  the  gain- 
sayers."     (Titus  i.  7-9-) 

Ques.  Are  you  assured  that  you  are  in- 
wardly moved  by  the  Holy  Ghost  to  take  upon 
you  the  office  of  the  ministry,  to  serve  God  in 
the  church  of  Christ  to  the  honor  and  glory  of 
his  holy  name  ?     If  so,  answer,  I  trust  I  am. 

Ques.     Do  you  believe  the  Holy  Scriptures, 


DISCIPLINE.  53 

Old  and  New  Testament  ?  If  so,  answer,  I  do 
believe  them. 

Ques.  Will  you  applj'-  due  diligence  to 
frame  and  fashion  your  life  according  to  the 
doctrines  of  Christ,  and  to  make  yourself,  as 
much  as  in  you  lieth,  a  wholesome  example  of 
the  flock  of  Christ  ?  If  so,  answer,  I  will,  the 
Lord  being  my  helper. 

Qties.  Will  you  obey  them  to  whom  the 
charge  and  government  over  you  is  committed, 
and  follow  their  godly  admonitions  with  a  will- 
ing and  ready  mind  ?  If  so,  answer,  I  will  en- 
deavor, through  the  grace  of  God,  to  do  so. 

Then  prayer  is  to  be  offered. 

After  prayer,  the  bishop  and  elders  shall  lay 
their  hands  upon  the  head  of  every  one  of 
them,  and  say : 

Take  thou  authority  to  execute  the  office  of 
an  elder  in  the  church  of  God,  in  the  name  of 
the  Father,  and  of  the  Son,  and  of  the  Holy 
Ghost.     Amen. 

[Hereupon  the  bishop  or  elder  shall  deliver 
to  every  one  of  them  the  Holy  Bible,  saying:] 

Take  thou  authority  to  preach  the  word  of 
God,  and  administer  the  ordinances  in  the 
church  of  Christ. 

[Then  the  bishop  or  elder  shall  pray.  And 
after  prayer  he  shall    read   from   Luke  xii. 


54  DISCIPLINE. 

35-38]:  "Let  your  loins  be  girded  about,  and 
your  lights  burning  ;  and  ye  yourselves  like 
unto  men  that  wait  for  their  lord,  when  he  will 
return  from  the  wedding ;  that,  when  he  Com- 
eth and  knocketh,  they  may  open  unto  him 
immediately.  Blessed  are  those  servants, 
whom  the  lord  when  he  cometh  shall  find 
watching;  verily  I  say  unto  you  that  he  shall  gird 
himself,  and  make  them  to  sit  down  to  meat, 
and  will  come  forth  to  serve  them.  And  if 
he  shall  come  in  the  second  watch,  or  come  in 
the  third  watch,  and  find  them  so,  blessed  are 
those  servants."  [After  this  the  following  ben- 
ediction is  to  be  pronounced :] 

The  peace  of  God  keep  your  hearts  and?ntnds 
i?i  the  knowledge  of  Jesus  Christ  our  Lord. 
Amen. 

Section  VII. 

Duties   of  Elders. 

It  is  the  duty  of  an  elder  to  preach  as  often 
as  he  can  ;  to  baptize,  to  administer  the  Lord's- 
supper,  solemnize  marriages,  to  perform  all 
parts  of  divine  service,  to  be  an  example  to 
the  flock  of  Christ  by  imitating  his  moral  ex- 
ample ;  and  in  a  very  special  manner  it  shall 
be  J:he  duty  of  an  elder  to  cherish  and  encour- 


DISCIPLINE.  55 

age  young  ministers,  and  always  to  be  looking 
for  those  whom  God  has  called  to  preach,  and 
advise  them  to  take  up  the  cross,  and  begin 
the  work  without  delay,  that  the  labor  of  this 
gospel  harvest  may  be  faithfully  performed 

Section  VIII. 
Presiding  Elders  and  their  Duties. 

Ques.  I.  How  shall  the  presiding  elders  be 
elected  ? 

A71S.  The  annual  conference  shall  elect 
them  by  ballot.  A  majority  of  the  whole 
number  of  votes  shall  be  necessary  to  a  choice. 

Ques.  2.  What  shall  be  done  for  the  sup- 
port of  the  presiding  elders  i 

Ans.  It  shall  be  the  duty  of  each  annual 
conference  to  make  such  regulations  for  the 
support  of  the  presiding  elders  as  they  in  their 
wisdom  may  think  best  calculated  to  accom- 
plish the  desired  end. 

Ques.  3.     Hew  shall  they  be  stationed? 

A71S.  By  the  bishop  and  two  elders  or  preach- 
ers from  each  presiding-elder  district. 

Ques.  4.  What  are  the  duties  of  a  presid- 
ing elder  ? 

Ans.  I.    To  travel  through  the  district  ap- 


$6  DISCIPLINE. 

pointed  him,  and  to  preach  as  often  as  is  prac- 
ticable. 

2.  He  shall  appoint  the  quarterly  and  camp 
meetings,  and  attend  them.  He  shall  hold 
quarterly  conferences,  and  administer  the  or- 
dinances of  God's  house.  He  shall  inquire 
whether  the  preachers  do  their  duty,  and  ex- 
hort them  to  maintain  discipline  and  order, 
love  and  seriousness  in  the  society.  He  may 
also  call  extra  quarterly  conferences  by  the 
consent  of  a  majority  of  the  quarterly-confer- 
ence members. 

3.  It  shall  be  his  duty  to  make  strict  inqui- 
ry if  each  itinerant  minister  has  received  the 
amount  of  salary  due  him,  and  in  case  of  a 
deficiency  to  make  an  earnest  effort  to  secure 
the  balance  due  him. 

4.  He  may  also,  in  conjunction  with  two 
elders,  preachers,  exhorters,  or  leaders  (one 
from  each  circuit),  change  the  preachers  in 
his  district. 

5.  Each  presiding  elder  shall  give  a  report 
in  writing,  of  his  district,  annually,  to  the  an- 
nual conference. 

6.  Should  any  district  happen  to  be  without 
a  presiding  elder,  information  shall  be  imme- 
diately given  to  a  bishop,  who  shall  appoint  an 


DISCIPLINE.  57 

elder  to  preside  in  said  district  until  the  ensu- 
ing annual  conference. 

Section  IX. 

Bishops — Election  and  Duties. 

Ques,    How  are  the  bishops  to  be  elected  ? 

Ans.  The  General  Conference  shall  elect 
them,  for  the  term  of  four  years,  by  a  majority 
of  the  whole  number  of  votes,  to  be,  at  the 
option  of  conference,  re-elected.  The  bishops 
must  be  capable  of  attending  the  conferences 
appointed  them ;  otherwise  they  can  not  be 
elected. 

Ques.  How  shall  the  bishops'  fields  of  la- 
bor be  assigned  them  ? 

Ans.  By  the  General  Conference  ;  and  in 
the  fields  thus  assigned  them  they  shall  devote 
their  whole  time  ;  but  no  bishop  shall  be  sta- 
tioned more  than  four  consecutive  years  on  the 
same  district.  They  shall  be  required  to  re- 
side within  the  bounds  of  the  district  assigned 
them,  if  practicable ;  provided,  however,  that 
they  shall  have  the  privilege  of  making  such 
temporary  interchanges  as  the  welfare  of  their 
districts  may  demand. 

Ques.    How  shall  their  support  be  secured? 


$8  DISCIPLINE. 

Ans.  I.  Each  annual  conference  shall  ap- 
portion its  respective  part  of  the  salary  of  its 
bishop,  annually,  to  the  several  fields  of  labor 
in  its  bounds,  according  to  the  ability  thereof. 

2.  The  bishops  shall  publish  annually,  in 
the  columns  of  the  Religious  Telescope  and 
Froshliche  Botschaftery  reports  of  their  respect- 
ive districts,  and  also  the  amount  of  salary  re- 
ceived from  the  several  annual  conferences  in 
their  charge. 

Ques.     What  are  the  duties  of  bishops? 

Ans.  I.  To  preside  over  the  annual  and  gen- 
eral conferences,  and  strictly  examine  into  the 
moral  and  official  character  of  the  members 
of  the  annual  conferences  in  the  bounds  of 
their  districts,  and  insist  upon  it  that  all  the 
laws  of  the  Church  are  faithfully  executed. 

2.  In  conjunction  with  the  presiding  elders 
of  the  past  and  present  year,  together  with  an 
equal  number  of  local  elders  or  preachers, 
they  may  fix  the  appointments  of  the  traveling 
preachers  for  the  several  circuits,  stations,  and 
missions ;  provided,  that  they  do  not  allow 
any  itinerant  preacher  to  remain  on  the  same 
station  or  circuit  more  than  three  consecutive 
years,  unless  particular  circumstances  require 
it,  and  then  only  with  consent  of  the  confer- 
ence. 


DISCIPLINE.  59 

3.  The  bishop,  in  conjunction  with  two  eld- 
ers, elected  by  ballot,  from  each  presiding- 
elder  district,  shall  appoint  the  presiding  el- 
ders to  their  respective  districts. 

4.  It  shall  be  their  duty  to  perform  the  rite 
of  ordination  at  the  annual  conferences,  and  at 
such  other  times  and  places  as  circumstances 
may  require  it,  and  then  only  upon  such  per- 
sons as  have  passed  the  usual  examination 
required  of  candidates  for  ordination,  by  a 
committee  of  three  elders  chosen  for  that  pur- 
pose by  one  of  the  bishops. 

5.  The  bishops  shall  hold  annual  meetings, 
a-t  which  they  shall  determine  the  time  of  hold- 
ing the  annual  conferences,  decide  questions 
of  discipline,  adopt  measures  to  secure  uni- 
formity in  their  administration,  and,  when 
circumstances  demand  it,  appoint  fast  and 
thanksgiving  seasons,  and  counsel  upon  the 
general  interests  of  the  Church. 

6.  In  conjunction  with  the  Board  of  Mis- 
sions, the  bishops  shall  have  power  to  organ- 
ize mission-conferences. 

7.  The  bishops  shall  devote  as  much  of 
their  time  as  possible,  consistent  with  their 
other  duties,  to  visiting  our  missions,  and  ex- 
ploring new  fields. 

8.  When   a  bishop    fails  to  perform    his 


6o  DISCIPLINE. 

duty,  unless  through  unavoidable  circum- 
stances, he  can  not  be  suffered  to  retain  his 
office. 

9.  If  our  church  should  at  any  time  be 
destitute  of  a  bishop,  a  bishop  pro  tetn.  shal 
be  elected  from  among  the  elders  at  each  an 
nual  conference.  Each  bishop  pro  tern,  shal 
attend  the  next  succeeding  conference,  in  con 
junction  with  the  bishop  pro  tern,  there  elect 
ed,  that  a  regular  correspondence  be  maintain 
ed  until  the  ensuing  General  Conference. 

10.  It  shall  be  the  duty  of  the  bishops  to 
see  that  a  suitable  sermon  be  delivered  to  the 
preachers  present  at  each  annual  conference. 

Section  X. 

Preachers'  Duties. 

Ques.    What  are  the  duties  of  preachers  ? 

Ans.  To  preach  Christ  crucified,  form 
classes,  and  report  the  same  to  the  annual 
conferences;  converse  with  the  members  on  the 
spiritual  condition  of  their  souls ;  administer 
relief;  strengthen  and  direct  those  that  are 
afflicted  and  labor  under  temptations;  ani- 
mate the  indolent ;  endeavor  as  much  as  pos- 
sible to  edify  and  instruct  all  in  faith,  in  grace, 
and  in  the  knowledge  of  Jesus  Christ;  visit 


DISCIPLINE.  6l 

the  sick  on  all  occasions;  strive  to  enforce 
and  confirm  the  doctrine  they  deliver  by  a 
well-ordered  and  exemplary  life. 

Ques.  What  are  the  directions  given  to  our 
preachers  ? 

Ans.  I.  Be  diligent.  Never  trifle  away 
your  time.  Always  be  serious.  Let  your 
motto  be,  "Holiness  unto  the  Lord!" 
Avoid  all  lightness  and  jesting ;  converse 
sparingly;  conduct  yourself  prudently  with 
women ;  and  demean  yourself  in  all  respects 
as  a  true  Christian.  Be  at  all  times  averse  to 
crediting  evil  reports ;  believe  evil  of  no  one 
without  good  evidence.  Put  the  best  construc- 
tion on  everything. 

2.  Speak  evil  of  no  one.  Whatever  may  be 
your  thoughts,  keep  them  within  your  own 
breasts  until  you  can  tell  the  person  concerned 
what  you  think  wrong  in  his  conduct. 

3.  Let  your  business  be  to  save  as  many 
souls  as  possible.  To  this  employment  give 
yourself  up  wholly.  Visit  those  who  need  it ; 
and  act  in  all  things,  not  according  to  your 
own  wills,  but  as  sons  in  the  gospel ;  for  as 
such  it  becomes  your  duty  to  employ  your  time 
in  the  manner  prescribed,  in  preaching,  and 
visiting  from  house  to  house ;  in  instruction 
and  prayer,  and  in  meditating  on  the  word  of 


62  DISCIPLINE, 

God.    With  these  be  occupied  until  our  Lord 
Cometh, 

No  preacher  shall  arbitrarily  form  a  circuit, 
mission,  or  station  within  the  limits  of  a  cir- 
cuit or  presiding  elder's  district,  or  shall  re- 
ceive compensation  for  labor  performed  with- 
out the  consent  of  the  preacher  in  charge,  nor 
shall  any  minister  preaching  in  a  different  Ian- 
guage  accept  a  call  from  any  regularly  organ- 
ized class  or  congregation  which  does  not  be- 
long to  his  conference,  without  the  consent  of 
the  annual  conference  to  which  the  charge  mak- 
ing the  request  may  belong.  Any  preacher  vio- 
lating the  provisions  of  this  section  shall  be 
amenable  to  his  quarterly  or  annual  conference. 

Section   XI. 
Itinerant  Preachers'  Duties. 

Ques.  What  are  the  duties  of  an  itinerant 
preacher? 

A71S.  I.  To  take  the  charge  assigned  him 
willingly,  and  move  to  it  if  practicable. 

2.  To  attend  the  appointments  on  his  circuit 
regularly,  preach  to  the  people  and  hold  class- 
meetings. 

3.  To  hold  a  society-meeting  at  least  one 
month  previous  to  annual  conference,  and  re- 


DISCIPLINE.  63 

vise  the  church-book ;  he  shall  make  inquiry 
into  the  moral  standing  of  each  member,  and 
in  no  case  shall  he  dispose  of  a  member  with- 
out the  consent  of  the  class  or  church,  except 
in  cases  of  special  law  requiring  the  erasure 
of  the  name  of  an  offending  member ;  and  he 
shall  render  a  true  report  of  his  membership 
to  the  annual  conference.  At  the  said  meeting 
he  shall  also  see  that  a  class-leader  and  stew- 
ard are  elected. 

4.  To  read  the  following  four  sections  of 
our  Discipline  every  six  months,  in  each  regu- 
lar congregation,  namely.  The  Confession  of 
Faith,  Reception  and  Duties  of  Members,  Ar- 
dent Spirits,  and  Secret  Societies. 

5.  To  sit  as  president  on  the  trial  of  mem- 
bers, and  see  that  a  correct  account  of  the 
same  is  kept. 

6.  To  render  a  strict  account  in  writing  of 
the  condition  of  his  circuit  to  each  quarterly 
conference,  where  he  is  to  be  held  accounta- 
ble for  the  neglect  of  any  regular  appointment 
on  his  circuit.  He  shall  also  report  the  num- 
ber of  appointments,  pastoral  visits,  and  any 
change  that  may  have  taken  place  in  the  mem- 
bership of  his  charge. 

7.  It  shall  be  his  duty  to  use  every  lauda- 
ble effort  to  circulate  our  books  and  church 
periodicals,  and  to  use  due  diligence  to  ad- 


64  DISCIPLINE. 

vance  the  interests  of  the  conference  Printing 
Establishment. 

8.  It  shall  be  his  duty  to  keep  a  list  of  the 
names  of  all  the  subscribers  to  our  church 
periodicals,  and  the  time  of  subscribing,  at  the 
different  appointments  on  his  circuit,  and  hand 
it  over  to  his  successor  at  the  annual  confer- 
ence, with  the  list  of  the  appointments.  He 
shall  also  report  the  number  of  subscribers  to 
our  periodicals  on  his  field  of  labor  at  each 
quarterly  conference,  and  be  examined  by  the 
presiding  elder  and  quarterly  conference  as  to 
whether  he  performs  his  duty  in  circulating 
the  periodicals  of  the  Church  among  the  peo- 
ple of  his  charge. 

9.  No  preacher  shall  dismiss  any  appoint- 
ment from  his  circuit,  without  the  consent  of 
quarterly  conference. 

10.  He  shall  secure  a  suitable  book  for  a 
church  record,  in  which  he  shall  register  all 
the  appointments  and  classes  on  his  circuit, 
station,  or  mission,  in  their  regular  order, 
with  the  name  of  each  member  attached  to 
his  or  her  class.  He  shall  also  make  a  record 
of  all  the  baptisms,  marriages,  deaths,  and 
proceedings  of  church  trials,  with  names  of  all 
the  parties  in  each  case.  He  shall  report 
this  record  with  the  proceedings  therein  to  the 


DISCIPLINE.  65 

last  quarterly  conference  of  each  year  for  ap- 
proval or  improvement.  This  book  shall  be 
the  property  of  the  quarterly  conference,  and 
shall  be  in  addition  to  the  regular  class-books. 

11.  It  shall  be  the  duty  of  preachers  in 
charge  of  circuits,  stations,  and  missions,  to 
collect  the  annual  amount  apportioned  to 
their  fields  of  labor  for  the  support  of  the 
bishops. 

12.  He  shall  hold  a  general  missionary 
meeting  at  some  convenient  place  on  his 
work.  He  shall  also  preach  a  missionary  ser- 
mon, and  appoint  a  soliciting  committee  at 
every  appointment,  whose  duty  it  shall  be,  in 
conjunction  with  himself,  to  canvass  the  class 
and  community,  personally,  to  solicit  funds 
for  the  missionary  society.  He  shall  also 
keep  a  list  of  the  names  of  contributors,  so  far 
as  possible,  and  report  the  same  to  conference 
for  publication  with  the  minutes,  or  in  the  an- 
nual report  of  the  Board  of  Missions,  as  the 
conference  may  direct.  He  shall  also  establish 
monthly  missionary  prayer-meetings  where- 
ever  practical  in  the  societies  of  his  charge. 
He  shall  be  held  to  a  strict  account  for  the 
faithful  performance  of  these  duties. 

13.  It  shall  be  the  duty  of  all  stationed 
preachers  to  visit  every  family   under   their 

5 


66  DISCIPLINE. 

care,  at  least  once  every  quarter,  and  pay 
strict  attention  to  the  young  members  of  their 
charge. 

14.  It  shall  be  the  duty  of  circuit  preachers 
to  visit  as  much  as  possible, 

15.  It  shall  be  the  duty  of  all  preachers, 
whether  local  or  itinerant,  to  make  use  of  ev- 
ery laudable  effort  to  enlarge  the  borders  of 
our  Zion,  in  spreading  scriptural  holiness,  and 
report  to  their  respective  annual  conferences 
the  number  of  new  appointments  obtained. 

Section  XII. 
Preachers'  Salaries.  - 

1.  The  salary  of  a  pastor  shall  be  such 
amount  as  may  be  agreed  upon  between  him 
and  the  quarterly  conference  of  the  field  of 
labor  to  which  he  is  sent. 

2.  It  shall  be  the  duty  of  a  circuit  or  sta- 
tion, when  a  preacher  is  sent  to  it  by  annual 
conference,  to  move  said  preacher  on  such  cir- 
cuit or  station  at  its  own  expense. 

3.  A  missionary  employed  by  the  Board  of 
Missions  shall  receive  such  salary  as  in  the 
judgment  of  the  Board  may  be  proper. 

4.  Preachers  sustaining  a  superannuated 
relation,  and  their  widows  and  orphans,  shall 


DISCIPLINE.  d'] 

be  provided  for  by   their   respective    annual 
conferences,  as  their  wants  may  require. 

Section  XIII. 
Trial  of  Preachers. 

I .  Quarterly-  Conference  Preachers. —  The 
quarterly  conference  shall  receive  and  try  all 
appeals,  references,  and  complaints  that  may 
come  regularly  before  it ;  but  no  member  of 
quarterly  conference  can  be  suspended  or  ex- 
pelled from  the  Church  prior  to  a  committee 
trial. 

When  a  quarterly-conference  preacher  or 
exhorter  is  accused  of  any  misdemeanor,  he 
shall  be  tried  by  a  committee  of  three,  of  which 
the  accused  shall  choose  one  and  the  quarter- 
terly  conference  a  second,  and  these  two  a 
third,  to  try  the  case. 

If  the  accused  refuse  or  neglect  to  choose 
his  committee-man  after  being  properly  noti- 
fied, the  quarterly  conference  shall  choose  a 
first  and  second  person,  and  these  two  a  third, 
who  shall  hear  the  case  and  decide.  If  the 
accused  is  found  guilty,  he  shall  be  silenced  ; 
provided,  however,  either  party  shall  have  the 
right  of  appeal  to  the  next  quarterly  confer- 
ence for  a  new  trial. 


6S  DISCIPLINE. 

2.  A7inual- Conference  Preachers. —  Ques. 
What  shall  be  done  when  a  preacher,  elder, 
or  bishop  is  reported  guilty  of  immorality, 
trespass,  imprudent  conduct,  or  disobedience 
to  the  order  and  discipline  of  the  Church  ? 

Ans.  The  preacher  to  whom  it  is  known 
shall  take  with  him  another  preacher,  exhort- 
er,  or  leader,  and  examine  into  the  charge  ; 
but  as  the  apostle  saith  (I.  Tim.  v.  19), 
"Against  an  elder  receive  not  an  accusation, 
but  before  two  or  three  witnesses."  If  it 
should  appear  that  said  reports  are  well  found- 
ed, they  shall  be  required  to  prefer  charges 
against  the  accused.  If  no  one  be  found  will- 
ing to  prosecute  the  case,  then  the  next  quar- 
terly conference  shall  appoint  a  prosecutor, 
whose  duty  it  shall  be  to  notify  the  accused, 
in  writing,  of  all  the  charges  preferred  against 
him.  He  shall  also  notify  him  to  choose  an 
elder  as  his  committee-man,  the  prosecutor 
choosing  an  elder  also  as  committee-man  in  be- 
half of  the  Church,  and  they  two  a  third  elder  or 
preacher,  before  whom  the  case  shall  be  tried. 
The  prosecutor  shall  also  notify  the  presiding 
elder  of  the  district  within  whose  bounds  said 
cause  of  accusation  occurred ;  and  it  shall  be 
the  duty  of  the  presiding  elder  to  appoint  the 
time  and  place  of  trial,  giving  not  less  than 


DISCIPLINE.  69 

twenty  nor  more  than  forty  days'  notice  to  the 
parties  concerned  of  said  trial,  and  he  shall  al- 
so act  as  chairman  on  the  case.  Should  the  com- 
mittee be  satisfied  that  the  accusation  is  sustain- 
ed, they  shall  require  him  to  hold  his  peace  un- 
til the  annual  conference,  where  he  shall  be 
accountable  ;  and  it  shall  be  the  duty  of  the  com- 
mittee to  transmit  in  writing  the  entire  proceed 
ings  of  said  trial  to  the  annual  conference,  where 
the  accused  shallhave  ahearing  before  the  con- 
ference or  a  select  committee  thereof;  and  if 
the  findings  are  sustained  he  shall  be  suspend- 
ed, expelled,  or  retained,  as  the  conference 
may  determine.  But  should  the  accused, 
after  having  been  duly  notified, refuse  to  comply 
in  choosing  his  committee-man,  the  presid- 
ing elder  shall  suspend  him  until  the  annual 
conference,  where,  if  he  shall  refuse  to  ap- 
pear, he  shall  be  dealt  with  according  to  the 
judgment  of  the  conference  ;  provided,  how- 
ever, if  he  be  an  elder,  elders  only  shall  vote 
in  the  case.  If  the  accused  or  prosecutor  be 
a  presiding  elder  or  a  bishop,  the  presiding 
elder  or  bishop,  as  the  case  may  be,  next  ad- 
joining, shall  act  as  chairman  on  the  trial. 

The  foregoing  relates  only  to  annual-con- 
ference members. 


70  DISCIPLINE. 

Section  XIV. 
Transfer  of  Preachers. 

A  preacher  removing  from  one  conference 
to  another  shall,  when  he  applies  to  another 
for  admission,  produce  a  transfer  from  the 
conference  to  which  he  formerly  belonged, 
signed  by  the  presiding  officer,  or  published 
in  the  minutes  of  the  conference  from  which 
he  has  been  transferred. 

A  preacher  or  elder  who  receives  a  transfer 
is  required  to  present  said  transfer  to  another 
conference,  or  return  it  to  the  conference  by 
which  it  was  issued,  within  eighteen  months 
after  its  date.  Otherwise  the  transfer  shall  be 
null  and  void,  and  the  name  of  the  preacher 
shall  be  published  as  no  longer  connected 
with  the  Church  as  a  minister ;  provided, 
preachers  taking  transfers  to  the  Pacific  coast 
shall  be  allowed  two  years  in  which  to  pre- 
sent their  transfers. 

A  preacher  or  elder  receiving  a  transfer 
shall  be  a  member  of  the  quarterly  conference 
in  whose  bounds  he  may  reside,  and  also  be 
accountable  for  his  moral  and  official  conduct 
to  the  annual  conference  granting  said  trans- 
fer until  his  transfer  be  received  by  the  con- 
ference to  which  he  has  been  transferred. 


DISCIPLINE.  71 

Form  of  Transfer. 

This  is  to  certify  that  is  a  regular 

or  in  the  Church  of  the  United 


Brethren  in  Christ,  of annual  confer- 
ence, and  is  hereby  transferred  to  an- 
nual conference  of  said  church. 

CHAPTER  VII.— ITINERACY,  ORGANIZA- 
TION AND  SUPPORT. 

Ques.     Who  are  the  itinerants  ? 

Ans.  I.  All  who  propose  themselves  with- 
out reserve,  after  having  traveled  two  years 
under  the  direction  of  the  stationing  commit- 
tee or  presiding  elder,  and  have  been  re- 
ceived, as  such,  by  a  vote  of  two  thirds  of  the 
members  of  conference. 

If  any  one  who  is  received,  as  above  stated, 
shall  cease  to  travel  without  giving  satisfac- 
tion to  the  conference  of  which  he  is  a  mem- 
ber, he  shall  not  be  entitled  to  any  support 
from  the  funds  belonging  to  said  conference. 
And,  furthermore,  he  shall  not  re-enter  the 
itineracy  without  the  consent  of  at  least  two 
thirds  of  the  conference.  Yet  supernumerary 
and  superannuated  relations  shall  be  duly 
recognized  as  in  accordance  with  this  section, 
and  may  be   secured  to  any  brother  having 


72  DISCIPLINE. 

just  claims  thereto,  by  a  vote  of  conference. 
Should  a  traveling  preacher  or  elder  desire  to 
leave  the  work  assigned  him,  he  must  first  ac- 
quaint the  presiding  elder  of  his  intention,  by 
writing ;  and  should  any  one  leave  or  neglect 
his  station,  except  it  be  through  sickness  or 
other  unavoidable  circumstances,  he  shall  be 
accountable  to  the  next  annual  conference. 

2.  The  bishop  and  presiding  elders  of  the 
past  and  present  years,  together  with  an  equal 
number  of  local  elders  or  preachers,  elected 
by  ballot  by  the  annual  conference,  shall  con- 
stitute a  stationing  committee,  whose  duty  it 
shall  be  to  supply  all  the  circuits,  stations,  and 
missions,  as  far  as  practicable,  from  the  above 
list ;  provided,  however,  that  if  any  of  the 
preachers  thus  stationed,  or  any  who  may  not 
receive  an  appointment,  are  dissatisfied,  they 
shall  have  a  right  to  appeal  to  the  annual  con- 
ference, if  two  thirds  grant  the  appeal,*  the 
decision  of  which  shall  be  final ;  and  the  re- 
port of  said  stationing  committee  shall  be  read 
at  least  six  hours  before  the  adjournment  of 
conference. 

*NoTH. — In  case  of  an  appeal  from  the  decision  of  the  sta- 
tioning  committee,  no  preacher  stationed  by  said  committee 
shall  be  changed,  without  his  consent,  to  accommodate  the 
preacher  asking  such  appeal. 


DISCIPLINE.  73 

3.  Should  there  not  be  enough  itinerants  to 
fill  all  the  circuits,  stations,  and  missions,  such 
vacancies  shall  be  supplied  by  the  stationing 
committee  or  presiding  elders. 

Ques.  2.  What  shall  be  done  to  regulate 
the  annual  conferences  in  the  division  of  cir- 
cuits or  stations  : 

Ans.  A  circuit  or  station  shall  not  consist 
of  any  specific  number  of  members  or  appoint- 
ments ;  but  when  the  annual  conference  thinks 
it  able  to  support  a  minister,  it  may  be  recog- 
nized as  such. 

CHAPTER  VIIL— APPEALS. 

Section  I. 

From  the  Decision  of  a  Class. 

Should  any  member  be  dissatisfied  with 
the  decision  of  a  church  or  class,  or  committee 
of  a  church  or  class,  an  appeal  maybe  had  to 
the  quarterly  conference,  by  giving  notice 
thereof  to  the  preacher  in  charge,  or  the  sec- 
retary of  the  trial,  within  thirty  days  after  said 
trial,  together  with  his  reasons  for  such  ap- 
peal ;  and  it  shall  be  the  duty  of  the  secretary 
to  furnish  the  quarterly  conference  with  a  cer- 
tified copy  of  the  proceedings  of  the  trial  and 
of  the  notice  of  the  appeal. 


74  DISCIPLINE. 

Section  II. 
Fro7n  the  Decision  of  a  Quarterly  Conference, 

Any  exhorter  or  preacher  dissatisfied  with 
the  decision  of  a  quarterly  conference  shall, 
within  thirty  days  after  the  quarterly  confer- 
ence, notify  the  secretary,  in  writing,  of  his 
intention  to  appeal,  together  with  his  reasons 
for  so  doing ;  and  it  shall  be  the  duty  of  the 
secretary  to  furnish  a  certified  copy  of  the 
proceedings,  the  notification,  and  reasons  as- 
signed, to  the  annual  conference. 

Section  III. 

From  the  Decision  of  Annual  Conferences. 

Any  member  of  an  annual  conference  who 
may  be  dissatisfied  with  the  decision  of  his 
conference  shall,  within  thirty  days  after  the 
session  of  the  annual  conference,  notify  the 
secretary  of  said  conference  of  his  intention 
to  appeal  to  the  General  Conference,  together 
with  his  reasons  for  so  doing  ;  and  it  shall  be 
the  duty  of  the  secretary  to  furnish  the  Gener- 
al Conference  with  a  certified  copy  of  the  no- 
tice, and  reasons  therefor,  and  of  the  proceed- 
ings of  the  annual  conference  in  the  case. 


DISCIPLINE.  75 

CHAPTER  IX— DUTIES  IN  GENERAL. 

Section  I. 

Necessity  of  Union  Amo7ig  Ourselves. 

Let  us  be  deeply  sensible  (from  what  we 
have  known)  of  the  evil  of  a  division  in  prin- 
ciple, spirit,  or  practice,  and  of  the  dreadful 
consequences  to  ourselves  and  others.  If  we 
are  united,  what  can  stand  before  us  ?  If  we 
are  divided,  we  shall  injure'  ourselves,  the 
work  of  God,  and  the  souls  of  our  people. 

What  can  be  done  in  order  to  a  closer  union 
with  each  other .? 

1.  Let  us  be  deeply  convinced  of  the  abso- 
lute necessity  of  it. 

2.  Pray  earnestly  for  and  speak  truly  and 
freely  to  each  other. 

3.  When  we  meet,  let  us  never  part  without 
prayer,  when  practicable. 

4.  Take  great  care  not  to  despise  each  oth- 
er's gifts. 

5.  Never  speak  lightly  of  each  other. 

6.  Let  us  defend  each  other's  character  in 
everything,  so  far  as  is  consistent  with  truth. 

7.  Labor  in  honor,  each  preferring  another 
before  himself. 

8.  We  recommend  a  serious  exammation 
of  the  causes,  evils,  and  cures  of  heart  and 
church  divisions 


76  DISCIPLINE. 

Section  II. 

Visiitfig  from  House  to  House  and  Enforcing 
Practical  Religion. 

Ques.  How  can  we  further  assist  those  under 
our  care? 

A7ts^  By  instructing  them  at  their  own  houses, 
which  is  necessary  to  promote  confidence  and 
communion  with  God  among  us,  to  wean  us 
from  the  love  o^  the  world,  and  to  inure  us  to 
a  life  of  heavenly-mindedness;  also,  to  encour- 
age us  to  strive  after  and  practice  brotherly 
love,  that  no  evil  thinking  or  judging  of  one 
another  be  found  among  us ;  and  lastly,  that 
we  may  learn  to  do  as  we  would  wish  to  be 
done  by. 

2.  Every  preacher  should  make  it  his  duty 
to  instruct  the  people  on  every  occasion,  both 
public  and  private,  and  exhort  them  to  be  dil- 
igent in  all  good  works  and  doctrine.  Until 
this  be  done,  and  that  in  sincerity,  we  shall, 
upon  the  whole,  be  of  but  little  use,  and  our 
good  shall  be  evil  spoken  of;  therefore,  wher- 
ever we  may  be,  we  should  guard  against  use- 
less and  idle  conversation. 

Undoubtedly  this  private  application  of  vis- 
iting from  house  to  house,  and  exhorting  the 


DISCIPLINE.  ^^ 

people,  is  found  or  implied  in  these  solemn 
words  of  the  apostle  : 

"I  charge  thee  therefore  before  God,  and 
the  Lord  Jesus  Christ,  who  shall  judge  the 
quick  and  the  dead  at  his  appearing  and  his 
kingdom ;  preach  the  word ;  be  instant  in 
season,  out  of  season  ;  reprove,  rebuke,  exhort 
with  all  long-suffering  and  doctrine."  (II. 
Tim.  iv.  I,  2.) 


Section  III. 
Singing. 

We  believe  it  to  be  the  duty  of  all  the  peo- 
ple of  God  to  sing  his  praises,  and  to  sing  them 
in  the  great  congregation  as  well  as  in  the  pri- 
vate circle.  We  therefore  earnestly  recommend 
to  all  our  people  the  cultivation  of  vocal  music, 
so  that  the  singing  in  our  congregations  may 
be  improved.  As  a  help  to  this  end,  we  ad- 
vise all  our  people  to  provide  themselves  with 
hymn-books  for  use  in  times  of  public  and  so- 
cial worship. 

We  would  counsel  our  societies  to  avoid  the 
introduction  of  choirs  and  instrumental  music 
into  their  worship. 


78  DISCIPLINE. 

CHAPTER  X.— MORAL  REFORM. 
Section  I. 
Temperattce. 

The  distilling,  vending,  and  useof  intoxicat 
ing  drinks  as  a  beverage  shall  be  and  is  here- 
by forbidden  throughout  our  society ;  and 
should  any  of  our  members  or  preachers  be 
found  guilty  in  this  respect,  they  shall  be  dealt 
with  as  in  the  case  of  other  immoralities ;  pro- 
vided, however,  that  this  rule  shall  not  be  so 
construed  as  to  prevent  druggists  and  others 
from  vending  or  using  it  for  medicinal  or  me- 
chanical purposes. 

Section  II. 
Slavery. 

All  slavery,  in  every  sense  of  the  word,  is 
totally  prohibited,  and  shall  in  no  way  be  tol- 
erated in  our  church.  Should  any  be  found 
in  our  society  who  hold  slaves,  they  can  not 
continue  as  members  unless  they  do  personal- 
ly manumit  or  set  free  such  slaves. 

And  when  it  is  known  to  any  of  our  minis- 
ters in  charge  of  a  circuit,  station,  or  mission, 
that  any  of  its  members  hold  a  slave  or  slaves, 
he  shall  admonish  such  members  to  manumit 


DISCIPLINE.  79 

such  slave  or  slaves  ;  and  if  such  persons  do 
not  take  measures  to  carry  out  the  Discipline, 
they  shall  be  expelled  by  the  proper  authorities 
of  the  Church  ;  and  any  minister  refusing  to 
attend  to  the  duties  above  described,  shall  be 
dealt  with  by  the  authorities  to  which  he  is 
amenable. 

Section  III. 

Secret  Societies 

We  believe  that  secret  societies  are  evil  in 
their  nature  and  tendency  ;  that  they  employ 
solemn  oaths  and  obligations  for  evil  and  un- 
worthy ends  ;  that  they  bind  men  together  in 
brotherhood  with  wicked  and  unholy  persons, 
and  bring  them  into  fellowship  not  consistent 
with  the  teachings  of  our  Lord  and  his  apos- 
tles ;  that  they  tend  to  produce  jealousies  and 
alienations  in  the  Church  of  God  ;  that  they 
employ  the  forms  of  religion  in  unwarranted 
services  and  ceremonies,  not  in  the  name  of 
Christ  nor  founded  on  the  merits  of  his  atone- 
ment ;  that  they  enjoin  under  oaths  and  solemn 
obligations  obedience  to  laws  and  regulations 
unknown  to  the  civil  government  within  which 
they  are  organized,  or  to  any  government  di- 
vinely ordained  ;  that  they  pervert  the  Holy 
Scriptures  to  foolish  and   unholy   uses ;    that 


So  DISCIPLINE. 

their  ceremonies  encourage  many  of  their  ad- 
herents in  hopes  of  eternal  life  without  a  truly 
evangelical  faith ;  that  they  'are  contrary  to 
that  openness  of  conduct  and  guilelessness'of 
character  enjoined  by  the  word  of  God,  and 
that  Christians  should  not  be  connected  with 
them,  for  the  apostle  expressly  says  :  "  Be  ye 
not  unequally  yoked  together  with  unbelievers; 
for  what  fellowship  hath  righteousness  with 
unrighteousness  ?  and  what  communion  hath 
light  with  darkness  ?  and  what  concord  hath 
Christ  with  Belial  ?  or  what  part  hath  he  that 
believeth  with  an  infidel?"  "Wherefore  come 
out  from  among  them  and  be  ye  separate,  saith 
the  Lord,  and  touch  not  the  unclean  thing,  and 
I  will  receive  you,  and  will  be  a  father  unto 
you,  and  ye  shall  be  my  sons  and  daughters, 
saith  the  Lord  almighty." 

1.  Any  member  or  preacher  who  shall  con- 
nect himself  with  a  secret  society  shall  be  re- 
garded as  having  thereby  declared  that  he 
prefers  such  society  to  the  fellowship  of  our 
church,  and  shall  be  considered  as  having 
withdrawn  from  the  Church. 

2.  No  person  shall  be  permitted  to  join 
our  church  while  holding  membership  in  a 
secret  society. 

3.  If  any  member  or  preacher,  at  the  time 


DISCIPLINE.  8l 

of  the  passage  of  this  rule,  be  connected  with 
a  secret  society,  and  does  not  discontinue  such 
connection  within  six  months  thereafter,  his 
failure  to  do  so  shall  be  regarded  as  a  refusal 
to  comply  with  the  condition  of  membership 
as  found  in  our  Constitution  (Article  II.,  Sec- 
tion 7,)  and  his  severance  from  the  Church 
shall  be  entered  on  the  church-records. 

4.  If  any  member  or  preacher  connected 
with  a  secret  society  shall  deny  or  conceal 
such  connection,  he  shall  be  tried  in  the  man- 
ner as  set  forth  in  the  sections  of  our  Discipline 
relating  to  the  trial  of  members,  and  trial  of 
preachers,  to  determine  the  facts  in  the  case. 

5.  In  cases  of  withdrawal  from  the  Church, 
as  recognized  and  set  forth  in  this  rule,  the 
preacher  in  charge  shall  announce  the  facts  to 
the  class,  and  see  that  the  records  of  the 
Church  correspond  with  the  facts.  If  the  per- 
son be  a  member  of  the  quarterly  or  annual 
conference,  the  conference  to  which  he  be- 
longs shall  see  that  a  record  of  the  fact  and 
manner  of  withdrawal  is  made  upon  its  jour- 
nal. 

6.  It  shall  be  the  duty  of  the  pastor  to  in- 
struct our  people  upon  the  evils  of  secret  so- 
cieties, and  to  endeavor  to  prevent  them  from 
being  ensnared  in   such  evils,  and,  so  far  as 


82  DISCIPLINE. 

possible,  to  reclaim  all  who  may  have  joined 
any  secret  order. 

7.  Provided,  That  in  case  a  member  has 
been  deceived  and  thereby  drawn  into  any  of 
those  societies  commonly  called  minor  orders, 
he  may  be  borne  with  for  a  reasonable  time, 
if  there  be  reason  to  believe  that  he  may  be 
reclaimed ;  but  the  time  shall  not  extend  be- 
yond twelve  months  in  any  case. 

Section  IV. 

Oaths. 

We  believe  that  the  mode  of  testifying  to 
the  truth  when  required  so  to  do  in  a  legal 
form,  by  way  of  affirmation,  is  on  us  solemnly, 
conscientiously,  and  fully  binding,  before 
God,  to  tell  the  truth,  the  whole  truth,  and 
nothing  but  the  truth. 

Section  V. 

War. 

We  most  positively  record  our  disapproval 
of  engaging  in  voluntary,  national,  aggressive 
warfare  ;  yet  we  recognize  the  rightful  author- 
ity of  the  civil  government,  and  hold  it  re- 
sponsible for  the  preservation  and  defense  of 
our  national  compact,  against  treason,  or  in- 


DISCIPLINE,  83 

vasion  by  any  belligerent  force  ;  and  we  be- 
lieve it  to  be  entirely  consistent  with  the  spirit 
of  Christianity  to  bear  arms  when  called  upon 
to  do  so  by  the  properly-constituted  authorities 
of  our  government  for  its  preservation  and 
defense. 

CHAPTER    XL— DOCTRINAL    PUBLICA- 
TIONS. 

No  one  of  our  preachers  or  laymen  shall  be- 
come the  author  of  any  doctrinal  book  or 
pamphlet,  in  a  printed  form,  in  the  name  of 
the  Church,  without  the  approbation  of  the 
annual  conference,  or  of  a  committee  chosen 
by  the  same.  And  if  any  preacher  or  layman 
violates  this  rule,  he  shall  be  accountable  to 
the  class,  or  the  quarterly  or  annual  confer- 
ence, as  the  case  may  be. 

CHAPTER  XIL— FORMULAS. 

Section  I. 

Marriage  Ceremony- 

We  are  gathered  together  in  the  sight  of 
God,  and  in  the  presence  of  these  witnesses, 
to  join  together  N.  and  M.  as  husband  and 
wife.     If  any  person  present  knows  any  just 


84  DISCIPLINE 

cause  or  impediment  why  these  persons  should 
not  be  joined  in  marriage,  let  the  same  now 
speak,  or  forever  after  keep  silent 

[If  no  impediment  be  alleged,  then  shall 
the  minister  say  unto  the  man  :J 

"  N.,  wilt  thou  have  this  woman  to  be  thy 
wedded  wife,  to  live  together  after  God's  or- 
dinance ?  Wilt  thou  love,  honor,  and  comfort 
her,  in  sickness  and  in  health,  in  prosperity 
and  adversity,  and  forsaking  all  others,  keep 
thee  only  unto  her  so  long  as  ye  both  shall  live  ? 
If  so,  then  answer,  '  I  will.'  " 

[Then  shall  the  minister  say  to  the  woman  :] 

"  M.,  wilt  thou  have  this  man  to  be  thy  wed- 
ded husband,  to  live  together  after  God's  or- 
dinance ?  Wilt  thou  love,  honor,  and  obey 
him,  in  sickness  and  in  health,  in  prosperity 
and  adversity,  and  forsaking  all  others,  keep 
thee  only  unto  him  so  long  as  ye  both  shall 
live  ?     If  so,  then  answer,  '  I  will.'  " 

[Then  the  minister  shall  require  them  to 
join  their  right  hands,  and  say  :] 

"Those  whom  God  hath  joined  together,  let 
no  man  put  asunder. 

"  Inasmuch  as  N.  and  M.  have  consented 
together  in  marriage,  and  have  witnessed  the 
same  before  God  and  these  witnesses,  I  pro- 
nounce them  husband  and  wife,  ip  the  name 


DISCIPLINE.  85 

of  the  Father,  and  of  the  Son,  and  of  the  Holy 
Ghost.     Amen,  " 

Qiies.  Who  of  our  ministers  are  permitted 
to  solemnize  marriage  ? 

Ans.  All  ordained  ministers,  and  also  those 
that  have  obtained  license  from  an  annual 
conference,  where  the  law  of  the  state  makes 
it  the  privilege  of  every  regularly  licensed  min- 
ister to  solemnize  marriage ;  but  none  are  per- 
mitted to  solemnize  marriage  with  quarterly- 
conference  Hcense. 

Section  II. 

Burial  of  the  Dead. 

After  the  coffin  is  lowered  into  the  grave, 
the  minister,  if  the  deceased  is  a  child  or  an 
adult  Christian,  shall  repeat  the  following  : 

"Man  that  is  born  of  a  woman  is  of  few  days, 
and  full  of  trouble.  He  cometh  forth  as  a 
flower,  and  is  cut  down  :  he  fleeth  also  as  a 
shadow,  and  continueth  not."  "Lord,  make  me 
to  know  mine  end,  and  the  measure  of  my 
days,  what  it  is  ;  that  I  may  know  how  frail  I 
am." 

"  In  the  midst  of  life  we  are  in  death;  unto 
whom  should  we  seek  for  succor  but  unto 
thee,  O  Lord,  who  for  our  sins  are  justly  dis- 


86  DISCIPLINE. 

pleased. '  Our  hope  is  in  thy  Son  Jesus 
Christ,  who  hath  said,  "  Tarn  the  resurrection, 
and  the  life ;  he  that  believeth  in  me,  though 
he  were  dead,  yet  shall  he  live  :  and  whoso- 
ever liveth  and  believeth  in  me  shall  never 
die."  "For  we  know  that,  if  our  earthly  house 
of  this  tabernacle  were  dissolved,  we  have  a 
building  of  God,  a  house  not  made  with 
hands,  eternal  in  the  heavens." 

"And  I  heard  a  voice  from  heaven  saying 
unto  me.  Write,  Blessed  are  the  dead  which 
die  in  the  Lord  from  henceforth  :  Yea,  saith 
the  Spirit,  that  they  may  rest  from  their  labors; 
and  their  works  do  follow  them." 

"There  shall  be  no  more  death,  neither  sor- 
row, nor  crying,  neither  shall  there  be  any 
more  pain  :  for  the  former  things  are  passed 
away." 

Inasmuch  as  God  in  his  wise  providence 
has  called  out  of  time  into  eternity  the  soul  of 
our  (brother,  sister,  or  child,)  we  commit  his 
(or  her)  remains  to  the  ground,  earth  to  earth, 
ashes  to  ashes,  dust  to  dust,  in  the  confident 
hope  of  the  general  resurrection  through  the 
Lord  Jesus  Christ,  at  his  coming  and  glory  ; 
that  this  corruptible  body  shall  be  raised  up 
and  be  fashioned  like  unto  the  glorious  body 
of  Christ,  be    re-united  with    the    soul,  and 


DISCIPLINE.  87 

be    received    into    everlasting    habitations." 
Amen 

BENEDICTION. 

CHAPTER  XIIL— CHARTERS. 

Whereas,  the  laws  of  certain  states  require 
churches  and  institutions  to  be  incorporated, 
in  order  to  be  recognized  by  law : 

Therefore,  in  such  cases,  the  quarterly  con- 
ference of  the  respective  circuits,  stations,  and 
missions  shall  appoint  a  competent  committee, 
consisting  of  three,  who  shall  apply  to  the 
proper  source  for  an  act  of  incorporation  on 
all  the  church  property  within  the  bounds  of 
such  circuits,  stations,  or  missions;  and  at  the 
last  quarterly  conference  of  each  year  the  pre- 
siding elder  shall  examine  said  committee  in 
reference  to  the  above  subject. 

2.  When  legacies  are  bequeathed  to  the 
Church,  the  names  of  the  presiding  bishops 
should  be  inserted  in  the  will  of  the  testator, 
to  be  under  the  control  of  said  bishops  and 
their  successors  in  office,  to  be  appropriated 
to  the  purpose  specified  by  the  donors. 


88  DISCIPLINE. 

CHAPTER  XIV.— SABBATH-SCHOOLS. 

Sectio    I. 

Duty  to  Children  and  Sabbath-Schools, 

Ques.  What  shall  be  done  to  benefit  the 
rising  generation  ? 

Ans.  Let  him  who  is  in  any  way  zealous  for 
God  and  the  souls  of  men  begin  the  work  im- 
mediately. Wherever  children  are  found, 
speak  freely  to  them,  and  instruct  them  dili- 
gently ;  exhort  them  to  be  good,  and  pray  with 
them  earnestly,  yet  simply  and  plainly,  that 
they  may  learn  to  know  their  Creator  and  Re- 
deemer in  the  days  of  their  youth. 

It  shall  be  the  duty  of  all  our  members  to 
encourage  our  Sabbath-schools  by  their  pres- 
ence, when  practicable,  and  always  lend  them 
their  aid  and  influence 

Sectio    II. 
Constitution  and  By-Laws, 

Article  i.  This  shall  be  called  the  Sab- 
bath-school Association  of  the  United  Breth- 
ren in  Christ. 

Art.  2.  The  object  of  this  association  shall 
be  to  promote  the  cause  of  Sabbath-schools  in 


DISCIPLINE.  89 

connection  with  our  church,  and  elsewhere, 
and  thus,  by  our  united  efforts,  to  promote  the 
glory  of  God  and  the  happiness  and  salvation 
of  mankind. 

Art.  3.  Sec.  i.  The  officers  of  this  association 
shall  consist  of  a  president,  secretary,  treasur- 
er, and  three  directors,  who,  together,  shall 
constitute  a  board  of  managers,  to  be  elected 
every  four  years  by  the  General  Conference. 

Sec.  2.  The  president  shall  have  the  gen- 
eral operations  of  the  association  under  his 
care.  He  shall  call  meetings  of  the  board  of 
mangers  when  necessary,  preside  at  such 
meetings,  and  present  the  wants  of  the  asso- 
ciation ;  and  he  shall  sign  all  orders  drawn  on 
the  treasurer  for  the  use  of  the  association  as 
appropriated  by  the  Board. 

Sec.  3.  The  treasurer  shall  take  charge  of 
and  hold  in  trust  all  the  funds  and  papers  of 
value  belonging  to  the  association,  subject  to 
the  direction  of  the  Board  of  Managers  and 
the  order  of  the  president. 

Sec.  4.  The  secretary  shall  keep  a  record 
of  all  the  business  transactions  of  the  associa- 
tion, conduct  its  correspondence,  and  at  the 
request  of  the  Board  of  Managers  devote  his 
whole  time  to  the  interests  of  the  association. 

Sec.  5.    The  Board  of  Managers  shall  meet 


90  DISCIPLINE. 

annually,  or  oftener  if  need  be,  at  the  call  of 
the  president,  and  provide  ways  and  means  to 
carry  into  successful  operation  the  plans  and 
purposes  of  the  association.  It  shall  appro- 
priate money  to  defray  all  necessary  expenses, 
and  also  to  fill  all  vacancies  occurring  in  the 
offices  of  the  association. 

Art.  4.  Sec.  i.  The  funds  of  the  associa- 
tion shall  be  used  as  follows  : 

1.  To  assist  in  organizing  and  sustaining 
Sabbath-schools  in  such  localities  and  manner 
as  the  board  of  managers  may  think  advisable. 

2.  To  aid  the  publishing  house  in  the  pub- 
lication of  books  for  the  use  of  sabbath-schools. 

3.  To  conduct  the  business  of  the  associa- 
tion. 

Sec.  2.  When  such  aid  is  needed,  those 
making  the  application  shall  organize  a  Unit- 
ed Brethren  Sabbath-school  by  electing  officers 
and  adopting  the  regulations  of  this  associa- 
tion, and  make  known  the  fact  of  such  action 
to  the  secretary,  as  well  as  the  kind  and 
amount  of  help  needed;  and  upon  a  favorable 
consideration  of  the  application,  such  supplies 
as  maybe  considered  necessary  and  advisable 
shall  be  furnished.  Such  donation  shall,  how- 
ever, not  be  continued  when  no  church  organ- 
ization can  be  effected  in  a  reasonable  time. 


DISCIPLINE.  91 

Art.  5.  Each  conference  shall  at  some 
suitable  time  during  its  annual  sessions  hold  a 
Sabbath-school  anniversary  meeting,  for  the 
purpose  of  advancing  the  objects  and  interests 
of  the  association. 

Art.  6.  It  shall  be  the  duty  of  all  our 
preachers,  whether  local  or  traveling,  to  exert 
their  influence  in  favor  of  this  organization, 
and  to  assist  in  organizing  and  sustaining 
United  Brethren  Sabbath-schools  in  our 
houses  of  worship,  ind  union  Sabbath-schools 
wherever  it  may  be  practicable ;  and  those 
in  charge  of  a  w^ork  shall  preach  on  the  sub- 
ject of  Sabbath-schools  at  least  once  a  year  at 
each  appointment,  and  report  the  following 
items  to  the  annual  conference  : 

1st.  The  number  of  schools  organized.  2d. 
The  number  of  scholars  enrolled.  3d.  The 
number  of  teachers  appointed.  4th.  The 
amount  of  money  collected,  first,  for  the  use 
of  schools;  second,  for  general  fund. 

Art.  7.  Sec.  i.  Any  preacher  or  mem- 
ber of  the  United  Brethren  Church  may  or- 
ganize a  Sabbath-school  by  calling  a  meeting 
of  the  members  of  the  Church,  together  with 
other  friends  of  Sabbath-schools,  in  any  com- 
munity where  practicable,  and  organize  by  en- 
rolling all  who  will  agree  to  unite  in  such  or- 


92  DISCIPLINE. 

ganization,  and  proceed  to  elect,  by  ballot,  or 
otherwise,  the  superintendent  and  other  neces- 
sary officers ;  provided,  however,  that  none 
be  allowed  to  vote  who  are  under  twelve 
years  of  age. 

Sec.  2.  Superintendents,  when  members 
of  our  church,  shall  be  members  of  the  quar- 
terly conference. 

Sec.  3.  The  superintendent  shall  hold  his 
office  one  year,  and  shall  render  an  account 
of  the  condition  of  his  school  to  each  quarterly 
conference  of  the  charge,  and  at  the  close  of 
his  term  see  that  a  successor  is  elected  after 
the  manner  described;  provided,  that  on 
stations  where  it  shall  be  thought  best  by  the 
pastor,  the  quarterly  conference  shall  elect. 

Sec.  4.  The  quarterly  conference  shall 
have  power  to  dismiss  a  superintendent  for 
delinquency,  and  supply  the  vacancy. 

CHAPTER     XV.— CONSTITUTION    OF 
THE  MISSIONARY  SOCIETY. 

I.  This  society  shall  be  called  the  ''Home, 
Frontier,  and  Foreign  Missionary  Society  of  the 
United  Brethren  in  Christ,"  and  is  organized 
for  the  purpose  of  aiding  the  annual  confer- 
ences in    extending  their    missionary  labors 


DISCIPLINE.  93 

throughout  the  country,  and  into  foreign  and 
heathen  lands. 

II.  The  payment  often  dollars  at  one  time 
shall  constitute  a  life  member,  or  fifty  dollars 
at  one  time  a  life  director.  No  certificate  of 
life  membership  or  life  directorship  shall  be 
granted  until  the  full  amount  is  paid. 

III.  The  officers  of  this  society  shall  con- 
sist of  a  president,  four  vice-presidents,  secre- 
tary, treasurer,  and  six  directors,  who,  togeth- 
er, shall  constitute  a  board  of  directors,  and 
shall  be  elected  every  four  years  by  the  Gen- 
eral Conference. 

IV.  The  president  shall  preside  at  all  meet- 
ings of  the  Board,  and  shall  have  power,  in 
conjunction  with  the  secretary,  to  call  special 
meetings.  In  the  absence  of  the  president, 
one  of  the  vice-presidents  shall  fill  his  place. 

V.  The  secretary  shall  keep  a  correct  rec- 
ord of  all  the  proceedings  of  the  society,  con- 
duet  its  correspondence,  and  devote  himself 
exclusively  to  the  interests  of  the  society.  He 
shall  keep  a  record  of  all  the  life  members, 
Hfe  directors,  legacies,  etc.,  etc.  He  shall  al- 
so make  out  and  publish,  under  the  direction 
of  the  Board,  an  annual  report  of  the  whole 
missionary  work  ;  also  a  quadrennial  report  to 
the  General  Conference.     His   salary  shall  be 


94  DISCIPLINE. 

determined  by  the  Board,  and  reported  to  the 
ensuing  General  Conference. 

VI.  The  treasurer  shall  hold  the  funds  of 
the  society,  subject  to  the  order  of  the  Board, 
and,  at  the  discretion  of  the  Board,  devote 
himself  exclusively  to  the  interests  of  the  Mis- 
sionary Society. 

VII.  The  Board  of  Directors  shall  hold  an- 
nual meetings  ;  have  power  to  appoint  an  ex- 
ecutive committee,  consisting  of  five  members; 
make  by-laws  to  regulat:  its  own  business; 
appropriate  money  to  defray  incidental  ex- 
penses ;  employ  missionaries  and  agents ; 
open  new  missions;  make  appropriations  to 
mission-conferences  ;  employ  laborers  for  mis- 
sion-districts ;  dissolve  mission-conferences; 
fill  vacancies  in  its  own  body ;  in  connection 
with  the  bishops  or  any  one  of  them,  ordain 
ministers  to  the  office  of  elder ;  and  publish, 
at  our  own  press,  such  matter  as  the  cause 
may  from  time  to  time  demand. 

VIII.  A  mission-district  shall  consist  of 
two  or  more  fields  of  labor,  outside  the  bounds 
of  an  annual  conference.  Its  annual  sessions 
shall  be  presided  over  by  a  bishop,  or  an  el- 
der ap  pointed  by  the  Board  of  Missions.  At 
these  annual  meetings  the  boundaries  of  fields 
of  labor  shall  be  fixed,  the  character  of  mem- 


DISCIPLINE.  95 

bers  examined,  preachers  may  be  received, 
examined,  and  passed  on  course  of  reading, 
and  be  ordained.  A  presiding  elder  may  be 
elected,  if  the  Board  of  Missions  so  advise, 
and  ministers  appointed  to  fill  the  fields  of  la- 
bor by  the  presiding  officer  and  the  presiding 
elder. 

IX.  Each  missionary  in  the  employ  of  the 
Board  shall  report  quarterly  to  the  secretary 
the  condition  of  his  mission ;  and  no  mission- 
ary shall  be  entitled  to  his  salary  who  shall 
neglect  to  comply  with  this  requirement.  The 
presiding  elders  of  mission-conferences  shall 
report  quarterly  the  condition  of  their  respect- 
ive works. 

X.  Each  conference  shall  be  considered  a 
branch  of  this  society,  and  shall  elect  a  treas- 
urer and  secretary,  i.  The  branch  treasurer 
shall  hold  the  funds  designed  for  the  Board, 
subject  to  its  order.  2.  The  branch  secretary 
shall  keep  a  record  of  the  proceedings  of  the 
annual  conference  in  relation  to  home,  front- 
ier, and  foreign  missions,  separately,  and  re- 
port the  same  immediately  after  the  session 
of  the  conference  to  the  secretary  of  the 
Board. 

He  shall  report  the  number  of  missions,  ap- 
pointments, meeting-houses,  members  at  the 


96  DISCIPLINE. 

beginning  of  the  year,  members  received,  and 
members  remaining ;  Sabbath-schools,  schol- 
ars, and  teachers  ;what  paid  on  missions  as 
salary ;  what  collected  for  missions  on  mis- 
s  ons  ;  what  collected  for  missions  in  the  whole 
conference;  how  much  paid  the  parent  Board, 
and  how  much  paid  to  home  missions;  and 
the  names  and  post-offi,ce  addresses  of  life  di- 
rectors and  life  members. 

The  branch  secretaries  shall  be  responsible 
to  their  respective  annual  conferences  for  the 
faithful  discharge  of  their  duties. 

XI.  Each  of  our  Sabbath-schools  is  hereby 
constituted  an  auxiliary  to  the  branch  society 
within  whose  limits  it  is  located  ;  and  the 
superintendent,  secretary,  and  treasurer  of  the 
Sabbath-school  shall  be  president,  secretary, 
and  treasurer  of  the  said  auxiliary,  and  shall 
report  annually,  through  the  preacher  in 
charge,  to  the  branch  society  ;  and  it  shall  be 
the  duty  of  every  auxiliary  society  to  hold  a 
quarterly  missionary  meeting,  and  take  up 
missionary  collections. 

Said  preacher  is  to  notify  the  above-named 
officers,  at  the  close  of  each  conference  year, 
that  such  report  is  due,  and,  if  need  be,  assist 
in  its  preparation. 


DISCIPLINE.  97 

Any  member  may  become  a  life  member  of 
the  auxiliary  by  the  payment  of  three  dollars, 
and  shall  be  entitled  to  a  certificate  of  life 
membership. 

The  branch  societies,  or  individual  mem- 
bers, may  specify  to  what  particular  portion 
of  the  work  their  funds  shall  be  applied  ;  pro- 
vided, however,  that  if  more  is  thus  designated 
than  is  necessary  for  the  work  specified,  it 
may  be  applied  to  some  other  work,  as  the 
Board  shall  determine. 

XII.  Each  branch  society  shall  have  the 
exclusive  management  of  the  home  missions 
within  its  own  limits ;  provided,  however,  that 
the  missionary  Board  shall  be  permitted  to 
open  and  operate  missions  within  the  bounds 
of  any  annual  conference,  jointly  or  inde- 
pendently, by  the  consent  of  such  conference. 

XIII.  Treasurers  of  the  parent  Board  and 
of  the  branch  society  shall  give  approved  se- 
curity. 

XIV.  All  bequests  or  donations,  the  inter- 
est of  which  is  to  go  to  missionary  purposes, 
made  to  any  of  the  above  societies,  shall  be 
kept  sacred. 

Form  of  Bequest. 

I  give  and  bequeath  to  the  Home,  Frontier, 
7 


98  DISCIPLINE. 

and  Foreign  Missionary  Society  of  the  United 
Brethren  in  Christ,  organized  by  the  General 
Conference  of  said  Church,  May  20,  1853,  and 
incorporated  in  Butler  County,  Ohio,  Septem- 
ber 23,  1854,  the  sum  of dollars  ;  and  the 

receipt  of  the  treasurer  of  the  society  shall  be 
a  sufficient  discharge  thereof  to  my  executors 
and  administrators. 

CHAPTER  XVI.— WOMAN'S  MISSIONARY 
ASSOCIATION. 

Section  I. 
Constitution. 

Art.  I.  This  society  shall  be  called  The 
Woman^s  Missionary  Association  of  the  United 
Brethren  in  Christ. 

Art.  2.  The  purpose  of  this  association  is 
to  engage  and  unite  the  efforts  of  woman  in 
sending  missionaries  into  the  foreign  and  do- 
mestic fields  of  the  United  Brethren  Church, 
and  supporting  them  and  other  laborers  in 
said  mission-fields. 

Art.  3.  The  payment  of  ^i  annually  shall 
shall  constitute  membership  in  this  asssocia- 
tion,  and  the  payment  of  %\o  at  one  time  life 
membership.      The  payment  of  $25  at  one 


DISCIPLINE.  99 

time  shall  constitute  the  donor  a  life  director. 
By  the  installment  plan  the  payment  of  $2 
annually  for  five  years  constitutes  life  mem- 
bership, or  $$  annually  for  five  years  a  life  di- 
rectorship. A  certificate  is  given  at  the  time 
of  payment  in  full. 

Art.  4.  The  organization  of  this  society 
shall  consist  of  a  board  of  managers,  an  ex- 
ecutive committee,  and  branch  and  local  asso- 
ciations, to  be  organized  under  the  constitu- 
tion hereto  attached. 

Art.  5.  Sec.  i.  The  Board  of  Managers 
shall  consist  of  three  delegates  from  each 
branch  association,  who  shall  be  elected  at  the 
branch  annual  meeting  held  within  three 
months  of  the  annual  meeting  of  the  Board. 
Said  Board  shall  meet  in  the  First  United 
Brethren  Church  of  Dayton,  Ohio,  at  the  time 
of  the  meeting  of  the  Home,  Frontier,  and 
Foreign  Missionary  Society,  in  May,  1876,  and 
annually  thereafter  at  such  time  and  place  as 
they  may  from  time  to  time  designate. 

Sec.  2.  The  officers  of  this  Board  shall 
consist  of  a  president,  three  vice-presidents, 
one  corresponding  secretary,  one  recording 
secretary,  and  one  treasurer,  who  shall  be 
elected  quadrennially  by  the  General  Confer- 
ence, and  shall  hold  their  offices  until  their 


lOO  DISCIPLINE. 

successors  are  elected;  and  they  shall, togeth- 
er, constitute  an  executive  committee,  whose 
duties  are  hereinafter  stated. 

Sec.  3.  These  officers  shall  discharge  the 
duties  usually  devolving  upon  persons  in  such 
positions,  and  such  other  duties  as  the  Board 
may  assign  them ;  and  they  shall  be  regarded 
as  members  of  the  Board  of  Managers  during 
their  terms  of  office. 

Sec.  4.  Life  directors  of  the  association 
shall  be  regarded  as  advisory  members  of  the 
Board  of  Managers: 

Art.  6.  The  Board  of  Managers  shall 
have  power  to  select  locations  for  missions, 
appoint  missionaries,  appropriate  the  funds  of 
the  association  as  the  interests  of  the  cause 
may  demand,  and  attend  to  the  administration 
and  general  management  of  the  affairs  of  the 
association. 

Art.  7.  The  Executive  Committee  shall 
carry  out  the  plans  and  directions  of  and 
stand  for  the  Board  of  Managers  during  the 
interval  between  the  annual  meetings  of  said 
Board. 

Art.  8.  This  society  shall  work  in  har- 
mony with  the  Home,  Frontier,  and  Foreign 
Missionary  Society  of  the  United  Brethren  in 
Christ,  and  under  the  direction  of  the  General 


DISCIPLINE.  lOI 

Conference  of  said  Church ;  and  its  mission- 
aries shall  be  subject  to  the  same  rules  that 
govern  the  missionaries  of  the  aforesaid  mis- 
sionary society. 

Art.  9.  All  funds  coming  into  the  hands 
of  the  treasurer  of  the  association  will  be  held 
subject  to  the  order  of  the  Board  of  Man- 
agers, or  the  Executive  Committee,  and  no 
funds  shall  be  disbursed  by  the  treasurer  ex- 
cept upon  the  orders  of  said  Board  or  com- 
mittee, duly  signed  by  the  secretary. 

Art.  10.  One  branch  society  may  be 
formed  within  the  bounds  of  any  annual  con- 
ference of  the  United  Brethren  Church,  by  the 
adoption  of  the  branch  constitution. 

Art.  II.  This  constitution  may  be  altered 
or  amended  at  any  annual  meeting  of  the 
Board  of  Managers  by  a  vote  of  two  thirds  of 
the  members  present. 

Section  II. 

Branch  Constitution. 

Art.  i.  This  society  shall  be  called  the 
Conference  Branch  of  the  Woman's 


Missionary  Association  of  the  United  Brethren 
in  Christ. 
A&T.  2.    The  object  of  this  society  is  to  aid 


102  DISCIPLINE. 

the  association  to  awaken  an  interest  among 
women  in  behalf  of  Christian  missions,  and  to 
raise  funds  for  their  support. 

Art.  3.  The  membership  of  this  society  shall 
consist  of  the  members  of  the  association 
within  the  limits  of  this  conference  district. 

Art.  4.  Section  i.  The  officers  of  this 
society  shall  be  a  president,  two  vice-presi- 
dents, a  secretary  and  a  treasurer,  who,  to- 
gether, shall  constitute  an  executive  commit- 
tee to  supervise  the  entire  work  of  the  associa- 
tion within  the  conference  district.  It  shall 
be  their  duty  to  make  earnest  efforts  to  secure 
the  organization  of  local  societies  in  all  the 
United  Brethren  congregations  within  the 
bounds  of  the  conference. 

Sec.  2.  It  shall  be  the  duty  of  the  secretary 
of  this  society,  to  keep  a  correct  record  of  its 
proceedings  and  the  proceedings  of  the  ex- 
ecutive committee,  and  transmit  a  report  of 
the  same,  with  the  number  of  members,  to  the 
recording  secretary  of  the  Board  of  Managers 
at  least  ten  days  before  the  annual  meeting  of 
the  Board. 

Sec.  3.  It  shall  be  the  duty  of  the  treas- 
urer to  collect  and  hold  the  funds  of  the  so- 
ciety, and  transmit  the  same  semi-annually  to 
the  treasurer  of  the  Board,  the  last  report  to 


DISCIPLINE.  103 

be  sent  in  at  least  ten  days  before  the  meeting 
of  the  Board  of  Managers. 

Art.  5.  Each  branch  society  shall  hold 
annual  meetings  to  elect  its  officers  and  mem- 
bers of  the  boards  of  managers,  and  to  trans- 
act anj'  business  pertaining  to  its  work,  its 
members  to  consist  of  the  officers  and  three 
delegates  from  each  local  society. 

Art.  6.  Each  branch  society  shall  provide 
for  the  expense  of  its  delegates  to  the  annual 
meeting  of  the  Board  of  Managers. 

Art.  7.  Life  members  within  the  bounds 
of  the  conference  shall  be  regarded  advisory 
member  of  the  annual  meeting  of  the  branch 
society 

Section  III. 

Local  Constitution 

Art.  I.  Local  societies  may  be  organized 
by  securing  names  of  persons  desiring  to  be- 
come members  in  any  United  Brethren  con- 
gregation, and  proceeding  to  the  election  of 
officers. 

Art.  2.  The  officers  of  this  society  shall 
consist  of  a  president,  vice-president,  secre- 
tary, treasurer,  and  two  or  more  collectors. 


I04  DISCIPLINE. 

Art.  3.  Sec.  i.  The  duties  of  the  presi- 
dent shall  be  those  usual  to  the  office. 

Sec.  2.  It  shall  be  the  duty  of  the  vice- 
president  to  assume  the  duties  of  president  in 
her  absence. 

Sec.  3.  It  shall  be  the  duty  of  the  secretary 
to  keep  a  record  of  the  proceedings  of  each 
meeting,  with  the  names  of  members,  and  re- 
port quarterly  to  the  secretary  of  the  branch 
society. 

Sec.  4.  It  shall  be  the  duty  of  the  treasurer 
to  hold  all  funds  of  the  society  and  transmit 
the  same  quarterly  to  the  treasurer  of  the 
branch  society. 

Sec.  5.  It  shall  be  the  duty  of  the  collect- 
ors to  visit  members  of  the  Church  and  solicit 
names,  collect  quarterly  dues,  and  report  the 
number  of  visits  and  amount  collected  at  each 
meeting. 

Art.  4.  Any  child  may  become  a  member 
of  a  local  society  upon  such  terms  as  said  so- 
ciety shall  designate 

Art.  5.  All  local  societies  shall  meet  quar- 
terly, and  shall  arrange  their  year  with  refer- 
ence to  the  annual  meeting  of  the  branch  so- 
ciety. 


DISCIPLINE.  105 

CHAPTER    XVII.—  CHURCH-ERECTION 
SOCIETY. 

I.  This  society  shall  be  known  as  The 
Church-Erection  Society  of  the  Church  of  the 
United  Brethren  iit  Christ,  and  is  organized  for 
the  purpose  of  aiding  feeble  churches  in  the 
erection  of  houses  of  worship. 

II.  The  Board  of  Missions  shall  constitute 
the  Board  of  Managers  of  this  society,  and 
shall  be  governed  by  the  constitution  and  by- 
laws of  the  Missionary  Society  so  far  as  they 
are  applicable  to  this  society. 

III.  It  shall  be  the  duty  of  the  preachers  in 
charge  on  their  respective  fields  of  labor 
throughout  the  Church  to  take  up  collections 
annually,  and  solicit  donations  to  the  funds  of 
this  society  and  pay  them  over  to  the  branch 
missionary  treasurer  of  the  conference,  who 
shall  transmit  them  to  the  treasurer  of  the 
parent  Board  at  Dayton,  Ohio. 

IV.  The  treasurer  of  the  parent  Board  of 
Missions  shall  receipt  for  all  moneys  sent  him 
by  the  various  conference  treasurers,  that  they 
may  make  settlement  with  their  respective  an- 
nual conferences. 

V.  Application  for  aid  from  this  society 
must  be  made  to    the    Board  of   Managers, 


I06  DISCIPLINE. 

through  the  presiding  elder  of  the  district  and 
the  preacher  in  charge  of  the  circuit,  station, 
or  mission  where  such  house  is  to  be  erected, 
who  shall  state  in  writing  the  condition  of  the 
society  desiring  such  aid,  the  propects  of  suc- 
cess, and  the  security  of  the  investment. 

VI.  Should  any  society  thus  aided  lose  its 
organization,  so  as  to  make  the  sale  of  such 
house  necessary,  then,  out  of  the  proceeds  of 
such  sale,  the  amount  loaned  them,  with  in- 
terest, shall  be  refunded  to  the  parent  Board. 

VII.  The  Board  shall  make  no  appropria- 
tions where  there  is  reasonable  prospect  that 
the  society  asking  aid  can  succeed  without  it; 
or  where  there  is  no  prospect  of  building  up  a 
good  society. 

VIII.  All  aid  rendered  shall  be  only  as  a 
loan,  the  principal  to  be  refunded,  without  in- 
terest, at  such  times  as  the  Board  may  direct, 
but  in  no  case  for  a  longer  term  than  five 
years  at  any  one  time ;  nor  shall  moneys 
be  loaned  to  any  so'ciety  until  their  church 
property  is  secured  by  deed  as  provided 
for  in  Discipline ;  nor  shall  moneys  be 
loaned  to  churches  until  their  trustees  have 
forwarded  their  notes,  secured  by  first  mort- 
gage on  the  premises  and  properly  recorded 
in  the  records  of  the  courts  for  the  inspection 


DISCIPLINE.  107 

of  the  Board  of  Managers  or  Executive  Com- 
mittee. 

IX.  The  Board  of  Managers  may  employ 
one  or  more  special  agents ;  provided,  how- 
ever, that  said  agency  shall  not  be  continued 
for  a  longer  term  than  three  months,  unless  it 
be  apparent  that  said  agency  is  a  moneyed 
success  to  the  society. 

CHAPTER    XVIII.—  PRINTING    ESTAB- 
LISHMENT. 

Rule  I.  The  above  establishment  shall  be 
called  "The  Printing  Establishment  of  the 
United  Brethren  in  Christ." 

Rule  2.  The  legislative  authority  herein 
granted  shall  be  vested  in  the  General  Confer- 
ence of  said  church,  whose  duty  it  shall  be  to 
elect  the  necessary  officers  not  otherwise  pro- 
vided for,  and  make  or  amend  any  rules  as  in 
their  judgment  may  seem  expedient. 

Rule  3.  The  proceeds  of  said  establishment, 
over  and  above  contingent  expenses,  shall  be 
applied  to  the  benefit  of  traveling  and  worn- 
out  preachers,  and  their  widows  and  orphans ; 
this  division  to  occur  equally  and  annually 
among  the  different  annual  conferences. 

Rule  4.  A  board  of  seven  trustees,  elected  by 


lo8  DISCIPLINE. 

the  General  Conference,  shall  take  the  over- 
sight of  the  establishment. 

Rule  5.  The  officers  of  the  establishment 
shall  consist  of  seven  trustees,  one  agent,  and 
such  number  of  editors  as  the  General  Confer- 
ence shall  deem  necessary. 

Rule  6.  It  shall  be  the  duty  of  the  trustees  to 
fix  the  salaries  of  agent  and  editors,  to  make 
settlement  with  the  officers  of  the  establish- 
ment every  six  months,  and  see  that  they  prop- 
erly discharge  their  duties,  and,  if  found  dere- 
lict, may  suspend  them  from  office  until  the 
General  Conference;  provided,  no  such  officers 
shall  be  suspended  until  they  have  been  fur- 
nished with  a  copy  of  the  complaints  in  writing, 
and  have  had  an  opportunity  of  defense  before 
the  Board  of  Trustees.  They  shall  also  have 
the  privilege  of  making  any  by-laws  which 
may  seem  expedient  for  the  better  regulation 
of  the  minor  concerns  of  the  office ;  provided, 
they  do  not  violate  any  part  of  the  foregoing 
rules. 

Rule  7.  It  shall  be  the  duty  of  the  agent  to 
take  charge  of  the  temporal  concerns  of  the 
office,  furnish  such  material  as  may  be  needed, 
and  to  act  as  the  general  book  agent  under  the 
direction  of  the  Board  of  Trustees.  He  shall 
prepare  and  publish  a  report  annually,  through 


DISCIPLINE.  109 

the  Religious  Telescope  and  Joyful  Messenger, 
and  shall  also  make  a  report  to  the  General 
Conference.  It  shall  be  his  duty  to  make  ar- 
rangements for  verbatim  reports  of  the  pro- 
ceedings of  the  General  Conference  for  publi- 
cation. 

Rule  8.  Should  a  vacancy  occur  in  any  of 
the  offices  of  the  establishment,  or  in  the  Board 
of  Trustees,  the  trustees  may  fill  said  vacancy, 
until  the  sitting  of  the  next  General  Confer- 
ence. 

Rule  9.  No  editor  or  officer  employed  in 
the  establishment  shall  accept  any  office  or 
engage  in  any  business  which  will  interfere 
with  the  duties  of  his  office. 


CHAPTER  XIX.— COURSE  OF  READING 
AND  STUDY. 

Section  I. 

For  licentiate  preachers,  upon  which  they 
are  to  be  examined  by  the  annual  conference 
to  which  they  belong.  They  shall  be  exam- 
ined, also,  each  year  of  their  probation,  on  the 
doctrine  and  government  of  the  Church,  as 
taught  in  our  book  of  Discipline.  It  is  pre- 
sumed that  a  fair  knowledge  of  the  ordinary 


110  DISCIPLINE. 

branches  of  an  English  or  German  education 
has  been  acquired  before  entering  upon  this 
course.  If  the  licentiate  does  not  possess  such 
knowledge,  he  shall  be  examined,  in  each 
year,  on  grammar  and  geography. 

FIRST   YHAR, — BIBLE   DOCTRINE. 

Human  Depravity ;  The  Atonement ;  Re- 
demption ;  Repentance  ;  Justification  by  Faith; 
Regeneration ;  Adoption ;  Witness  of  the 
Spirit ;  Christian  Perfection ;  Possibility  of 
Final  Apostasy. 

Books  Required. — Bible ;  Watson's  Insti- 
tutes ;  Shedd's  Homiletics  to  Lecture  XVI.; 
Ripley's  Sacred  Rhetoric  ;  Fletcher's  Appeal ; 
History  of  the  United  Brethren  in  Christ ;  an 
essay  or  written  sermon. 

Books  Recommended.  —  Bridges'  Christian 
Ministry ;  Upham's  Life  of  Faith ;  Philosophy 
of  the  Plan  of  Salvation ;  Whateley's  Rhetoric ; 
Shedd's  Christian  Doctrine. 

SECOND   YEAR.— BIBLE   DOCTRINE. 

Existence  and  Attributes  of  God;  Trinity; 
Divinity  and  Humanity  of  Christ ;  Personality 
and  Deity  of  the  Holy  Ghost;  Immortality  of 
the  Soul ;  Resurrection  of  the  Body ;  Future 
General  Judgment;  Eternal  Rewards  and 
Punishments. 


DISCIPLINE.  Ill 

Books  Required. — Bible;  Watson's  Insti- 
stitutes,  continued  ;  Shedd's  Homiletics  from 
Lecture  XVI.,  to  the  end;  Kurtz'  Church  His- 
tory, Volume  I  ;  Mosheim's  Church  History, 
to  the  Reformation;  Alexander's  Evidences 
of  Christianity ;  Wayland's  Moral  Science ; 
written  sermon. 

Books  Recommended.  —  Upham's  Interior 
Life  ;  Neander's  Planting  and  Training  of  the 
Christian  Church  (Robinson's  translation); 
Jahn's  Archaeology  ;  Haven's  Mental  Philoso- 
phy ;  Weber's  Universal  History ;  Shedd's 
Christian  Doctrine. 

THIRD   YEAR. — BIBLE   INSTITUTIONS. 

The  Christian  Sabbath  ;  the  Lord's-supper  ; 
Christian  Baptism. 

Books  Required. — Bible  ;  Ralston's  Elements 
of  Divinity  ;  Kurtz's  Church  History,  Vol.  II. ; 
Mosheim's  Church  History,  from  the  Reforma- 
tion to  the  close ;  Coleman's  Geographical 
History  of  the  Bible  ;  Butler's  Analogy  ; 
Companion  to  the  Bible — Barrows' ;  Whate- 
ly's  Logic ;  written  sermon. 

Books  Recommended. — Vinet's  Homiletics  ; 
D'Aubigne's  History  of  the  Reformation  ;  Jo- 
sephus'  Antiquities  of  the  Jews ;  Hackett's  II- 


112  DISCIPLINE. 

lustrations  of  Scripture  ;  Upham's  Divine  Un- 
ion. 

Any  licentiate  who  fails  to  read  the  books 
required,  and  to  submit  to  the  examination, 
shall,  at  the  close  of  the  third  year  of  his  pro- 
bation at  furthest,  have  his  name  erased  from 
the  annual  conference  record,  unless  a  reason- 
able excuse  can  be  given  for  such  failure,  in 
which  case  he  shall  be  referred  back  to  and 
have  standing  in  the  quarterly  conference  as  a 
licensed  preacher. 

Section  IT. 

GERMAN   COURSE   OF   READING. 

First  Year, — Bible  ;  Discipline  ;  History  of 
the  United  Brethren  Church  ;  Heyse's  Church 
History;  Dr.  Sultzberger's  Dogmatic  Glau- 
benslehre ;  Clark's  Hand-book ;  Fletcher's 
Appeal ;  Nelson  on  Infidelity  ;  Herr  on  Justi- 
fication ;  Heyse's  German  Grammar;  written 
sermon. 

Secotit  Year. — Bible ;  Church  History  ;  Dis- 
cipline and  Grammar,  continued;  Heyse's 
Church  History;  Dr.  Sultzberger's  Dogmatic 
Glaubenslehre ;  Buck's  Theological  Diction- 
ary ;  D'Aubigne's  Reformation ;  Zellers  on 
the  Soul ;  Philosophy  of  the  Plan  of  Salvation ; 
essay. 


DISCIPLINE.  113 

Third  Year. — Bible  ;  Heyse's  History  and 
Dr.  Sultzberger's  Glaubenslehre,  continued ; 
Discipline  and  Grammar,  continued ;  Lisco's 
Apostolic  Creed  ;  Preface  to  Nast's  Commen- 
tary ;  Nast  on  the  God-Man  Christ ;  Arnold 
on  the  First  Love. 

CHAPTER  XX.— MEETING-HOUSES  AND 
PARSONAGES. 

Ques.  Is  anything  advisable  in  regard  to 
the  building  of  meeting-houses  ? 

Alls.  Let  all  our  meeting  houses  be  built 
plain  and  neat,  with  free  seats,  and  not  more 
expensive  than  necessary. 

Ques.  To  whom  are  our  meeting-houses^ 
and  the  premises  belonging  to  them,  to  be 
deeded  ? 

Ans.  To  a  board  of  trustees,  who  shall  in. 
all  cases  have  warranty  deeds  legally  executed 
and  made  to  them  and  their  successors  in  of- 
fice, in  trust  for  the  Church  of  the  United 
Brethren  in  Christ,  who  shall  have  the  same 
recorded  in  the  county  records  where  the  prop- 
erty is  situated. 

Ques.  How  is  the  board  of  trustees  to  be 
constituted  ? 

Ans.  Whenever  it  is  contemplated  by  a  so- 
ciety to  purchase  or  build  a  meeting-house,  it 


114  DISCIPLINE. 

shall  be  the  duty  of  a  leader  or  steward  of 
such  society  to  make  it  known  to  the  quarterly 
conference  of  the  circuit  or  station  tu  which 
he  belongs,  whose  duty  it  shall  be  to  appoint 
a  judicious  board  of  trustees,  where  the  law  of 
the  state  does  not  otherwise  provide,  of  not 
less  than  three  in  number,  or  as  the  law  of  the 
state  in  which  said  house  is  to  be  built  may 
direct ;  provided,  however,  that  at  least  a  ma- 
jority of  such  board  of  trustees  shall  be  mem- 
bers of  our  church.  The  trustees  shall  hold 
their  office  during  the  pleasure  of  the  quarterly 
conference. 

Ques.  How  are  the  trustees  to  proceed  in 
building  a  house  ? 

Ans.  No  society  shall  commence  the  build- 
ing of  any  meeting-house  without  first  getting 
an  act  of  incorporation,  where  the  law  of  the 
state  requires  it.  They  shall  form  an  estimate 
of  the  amount  necessary  to  procure  a  lot,  to 
build,  and  to  make  such  other  improvements 
as  may  be  considered  necessary.  And  they 
shall  at  no  time  proceed  with  the  building  of  a 
house  of  worship,  beyond  the  means,  either 
in  hand  or  sufficiently  secured,  so  as  to  avoid 
involving  our  houses  of  worship  in  any  way 
in  debt. 

The  trustees  shall  hold  annual  meetings,  or 


DISCIPLINE.  115 

oftener  if  need  be,  and  shall  elect  from  their 
number  the  following  officers,  namely,  a  pres- 
ident, secretary,  and  treasurer.  The  meetings 
of  the  board  shall  be  subject  to  the  call  of  the 
president.  It  shall  be  the  duty  of  the  secretary 
to  keep  acoriCCt  record  of  all  the  business 
transactions  of  the  board,  in  a  book  provided 
for  that  purpose,  which  shall  at  all  times  be 
open  for  inspection  by  the  quarterly  confer- 
ence of  the  charge  having  the  care  of  the 
property.  The  treasurer  shall  receive  all  funds 
for  meeting-house,  cemetery,  and  parsonage 
purposes,  and  pay  out  the  same  under  the  di- 
rection of  the  board,  and  report  to  the  board 
the  financial  condition  at  their  several  meet- 
ings. 

The  board  shall  make  an  annual  report  to  the 
quarterly  conference. 

Ques.  What  shall  be  done  when  a  vacan- 
cy or  vacancies  occur  in  the  board  of  trustees  ?• 

Ans.  It  shall  be  the  duty  of  the  quarterly 
conference  to  appoint  a  suitable  person  or  per- 
sons to  fill  such  vacancies. 

Ques.  What  shall  be  done  when  any  of  ou' 
houses  are  vacant? 

Ans.  It  shall  be  the  duty  of  the  quarterly 
conference  of  the  nearest  circuit  or  station  to 


Il6  DISCIPLINE. 

appoint  not  less  than  three  suitable  persons  for 
trustees,  who  shall  have  the  power,  when  au- 
thorized by  two  thirds  of  the  members  of  that 
conference,  to  lease,  rent,  or  sell  such  meeting- 
house, and  the  appurtenances  belonging  to  it ; 
and  to  appropriate  the  money  arising  from 
such  lease,  rent,  or  sale,  by  the  direction  of 
said  conference,  toward  the  erection  of  new 
meeting-houses,  or  the  liquidation  of  debts  on 
old  ones.  If  the  vacated  house  be  a  parson- 
age, the  proceeds  shall  be  disposed  of  in  like 
manner  ;  but  in  every  case  the  proceeds  arising 
from  the  lease,  rent,  or  sale  of  parsonage 
property  shall  be  kept  sacred  for  parsonage 
purposes.  When  a  lot  is  deeded  to  an  English 
United  Brethren  society,  or  to  a  German  Unit- 
ed Brethren  society,  and  one  or  the  other 
party  cease  to  exist  in  an  organized  form  by 
deaths,  removals,  expulsions,  or  otherwise,  the 
remaining  organized  class  shall  have  full  right 
"to  make  such  improvements  or  repairs  on  said 
lot,  as  may  be  needed  for  worship,  and  a 
peaceable  possession. 

The  above  rules  to  be  observed  in  purchas- 
ing or  building  parsonage-houses. 

It  shall  be  the  duty  of  our  presiding  elders, 
as  soon  as  convenient,  to  appoint,  or  see  that 
three  or  five  suitable   persons  are  appointed, 


DISCIPLINE.  117 

with  the  consent  of  the  quarterly  conference, 
to  take  up  subscriptions  to  build  or  purchase 
parsonage-houses  for  their  respective  stations 
or  circuits,  the  same  to  be  deeded  to  those 
three  or  five  trustees,  and  their  successors  in 
office,  for  the  use  of  the  Church  of  the  United 
Brethren  in  Christ.  We  recommend  that  all 
our  parsonage-houses  be  plain,  and  located  in 
some  central  place. 

In  cases  where  fields  of  labor,  are  divided 
having  parsonages  upon  them  the  disposition 
of  said  parsonges  shall  be  submitted  to  a 
board  of  aroiters,  consisting  of  three  members 
of  the  Church,  one  to  be  chosen  by  each  quar- 
terly conference,  and  these  two  a  third,  to 
whom  the  whole  matter  shall  be  referred,  their 
decision  of  the  case  being  final.  In  cases 
where  more  than  two  quarterly  conferences 
are  interested,  the  same  plan  shall  be  pursued. 

CHAPTER  XXI.— BOARD  OF  EDUCA- 
TION. 

I.  There  shall  be  a  general  board  of  edu- 
cation, known  by  the  name  of  "  The  Board  of 
Education,"  under  the  care  of  the  GeneraJ 
Conference  of  the  Church  of  the  United  Breth- 
ren in  Christ. 


Il8  DISCIPLINE. 

II.  This  board  shall  consist  of  twelve  mem- 
bers, elected  by  the  General  Conference,  who 
shall  hold  office  for  four  years,  six  of  whom 
shall  be  clergymen  ;  the  remainder  may  be 
lay  members  of  the  United  Brethren  Church. 
Five  members,  including  the  president  or  vice- 
president,  shall  constitute  a  quorum. 

III.  The  officers  shall  be  a  president,  vice- 
president,  recording  secretary,  corresponding 
secretary,  and*  treasurer.  These  shall  be  elect- 
ed by  the  members  of  the  board  at  their  first 
regular  meeting  after  the  sitting  of  General 
Conference,  and  shall  hold  office  until  the 
next  regular  session  of  the  General  Confer- 
ence. 

The  board  may  appoint  any  competent  per- 
sons, members  of  the  United  Brethren  Church, 
to  be'  their  treasurer  and  corresponding  secre- 
tary ;  these,  if  elected  outside  of  the  board, 
shall  be  advisory  members  of  the  board. 

In  case  of  vacancy  occurring  in  the  board, 
by  death  or  otherwise,  the  board  shall  have 
power  to  fill  the  vacancy,  the  election  to  be 
by  ballot,  and  the  person  elected  to  hold  of- 
fice until  the  next  meeting  of  General  Confer- 
ence. 

There  shall  be  at  least  one  session  of  the 
board  each  year.     Meetings  of  the  board  shall 


DISCIPLINE.  119 

be  called  by  the   president,    upon    request   of 
three  members. 

IV.  The  object  of  this  board  shall  be,  i, 
To  raise  funds  by  collection,  donation,  bequest, 
or  otherwise,  to  aid  by  loan,  without  interest, 
as  the  executive  committee  may  determine,  in 
educating,  both  in  their  collegiate  and  theolog- 
ical course,  pious  young  persons  who  are  pre- 
paring themse.ves  for  the  work  of  the  gospel 
ministry,  or  as  missionaries,  in  the  United 
Brethren  Church  ;  provided,  however,  the 
board  shall  have  power  to  receive  money  and 
use  it  for  other  educational  purposes  as  donors 
may  direct. 

2.  To  seek  by  the  publication  of  tracts, 
pamphlets,  addresses,  or  books  upon  educa- 
tional questions,  to  diffuse  among  our  members 
a  more  general  knowledge  of  the  value  of  a 
sanctified  education  and  of  a  well-instructed 
ministry,  and  thereby  awaken  in  them  a  bet- 
ter appreciation  of  our  institutions  of  learning 
and  of  the  obligations  resting  upon  them  to 
give  of  their  substance  for  their  support  . 

3.  To  make  an  annual  report  of  the  condi- 
tion, financially  and  otherwise,  of  the  colleges 
and  other  educational  institutions  of  the 
Church  ;  to  make  such  recommendations  to 
the  managers  of  these  institutions  as  will  tend 


120  DISCIPLINE. 

to  make  them  more  efficient ;  to  secure,  as  far 
as  may  seem  desirable,  harmony  of  courses 
of  study  between  preparatory  schools  and  col- 
leges and  universities  ;  to  discourage  the  mul- 
tiplication of  schools  and  colleges  when  they 
can  not  be  properly  supported  ;  to  recommend 
methods  of  endowment,  plans  of  building, 
how  best  to  secure  funds,  and  give  any  other 
counsel  which  the  interest  of  these  schools  and 
the  Church  may  demand. 

V.  To  accomplish  these  results,  the  board 
may  cause  an  annual  collection  to  be  taken 
on  the  next  Sabbath  following  the  last  Thurs- 
day of  January,  or  at  such  other  time  as  the 
presiding  elder  of  the  district  may  deem  most 
suitable.  The  preacher  in  charge,  or  some 
other  competent  person,  shall  first  preach  a  ser- 
mon or  make  appropriate  remarks  concerning 
the  object,  plans,  and  working  of  this  board, 
and  then  take  a  collection  in  such  a  manner 
as  will  secure  the  largest  amount  of  funds, — 
such  collection  to  be  promptly  sent  to  the 
treasurer  of  this  board. 

If  the  board  deem  it  best,  it  may  apportion 
the  amount  to  be  raised  to  the  various  confer- 
ences, according  to  their  number  and  ability, 
and  these  in  turn  shall  apportion  to  their  re- 
spective fields  of  labor. 


DISCIPLINE.  121 

VI.  Young  persons  aided  by  this  board 
must  first  be  recommended  by  the  conference 
in  whose  bounds  they  live,  or  to  which  they 
belong,  or  by  the  Board  of  Missions  when  the 
applicant  does  not  reside  within  the  bounds 
of  any  conference,  as  suitable  persons  to  re- 
ceive aid,  or  by  an  educational  committee  ap- 
pointed by  said  conference,  to  whom  all  re- 
quests for  aid,  not  acted  upon  by  conference, 
or  which  shall  occur  during  the  interim  of  its 
sitting,  shall  be  referred. 

VII.  The  funds  raised  in  any  conference 
shall,  as  far  as  may  seem  practicable,  be  spent 
in  assisting  young  persons  from  that  confer- 
ence who  may  need  aid.  This,  however, 
shall  not  prevent  the  board  from  assisting  ap- 
plicants who  come  from  weak  or  mission-con- 
ferences to  such  an  extent  as  they  may  deem 
best,  nor  in  applying  donations  and  bequests 
in  such  a  manner  as  donors  may  desire. 

VIII.  The  board  shall  have  power  to  make 
persons  honorary  members  of  the  same  by  the 
payment  of  $50.00.  The  persons  thus  made 
honorary  members  shall  have  the  right  to  sit 
in  the  nieetings  of  the  board  and  engage  in  its 
deliberations,  but  shall  have  no  right  to  vote. 

IX.  The  board  shall  have  power  to  appoint 
an  executive  committee  from  its  own  body, 


122  DISCIPLINE. 

and  to  make  such  by-laws  to  regulate  its  own 
proceedings,  and  to  effectually  accomplish 
the  object  of  its  creation,  as  shall  not  be  in- 
consistent with  this  constitution. 

X.  The  board,  through  its  corresponding 
secretary,  shall  make  to  the  General  Confer- 
ence a  report  of  all  the  work  done  during  the 
preceding  four  years,  including  money  re- 
ceived by  collections,  bequests,  or  otherwise, 
the  amount  paid  out,  and  the  purposes  for 
which  it  was  paid.  The  board  may  propose 
to  the  General  Conference,  from  time  to  time, 
such  plans  as  it  may  consider  useful  or  neces- 
sary for  the  success  of  the  work  committed 
to  it. 

XL  No  addition  or  amendment  to  the  pro- 
visions of  this  constitution  shall  be  made  un- 
less by  consent  of  a  majority  of  the  members 
of  General  Conference  present  at  any  of  the 
sessions.  Notice  of  this  proposed  addition 
or  amendment  shall  have  been  given  at  least 
one  day  previous, 

CHAPTER  XXII.— BOUNDARIES. 

Section  I. 

Boimdaries  of  Bishops'  Districts. 

East  District. — Alleghany,  East    Pensylva- 


DISCIPLINE.  123 

nia,  Pennsylvania,  Eastern,  Virginia,  Parkers- 
burg,  Erie,  Muskingum,  and  Tennessee  con- 
ferences. 

Ohio  District. — Scioto,  Sandusky,  Miami, 
Auglaize,  Ohio  German,  Ontario,  North  Ohio, 
and  Western  Reserve  conferences. 

East  Mississippi  District— -'^i.  Joseph,  Upper 
Wabash,  Lower  Wabash,  Central  Illinois, 
Southern  Illinois,  Illinois,  Indiana,  White  Riv- 
er, Michigan,  and  Saginaw  conferences. 

West  Mississippi  District. — Minnesota,  Iowa, 
East  DesMoines,  West  DesMoines,  Dakota, 
Missouri,  Kansas,  Nebraska,  Colorado,  Osage, 
Rock  River,  Wisconsin,  and  Fox  River  con- 
ferences. 

Pacific  Coast  District. — California,  Oregon, 
and  W^alla  Walla  conferences- 

Section  II. 

Alleghany  Confere?tce. — Beginning  at  the 
south-west-{!orner  of  Mercer  County,  Pennsyl- 
vania ;  thence  east,  to  the  south-east  corner  of 
Potter  County-;  thence  north,  to  the  state  line 
between  Pennsylvania  and  New  York  ;  thence 
cast  on  said  line  to  the  point  where  the  North- 
ern Central  Railroad  crosses  said  line  ;  thence 
south-west  to  the  north-west  corner  of  Union  ; 
thence  along   the   line  of  East    Pennsylvania 


124  DISCIPLINE. 

Conference,  to  the  mouth  of  the  Juniata  River ; 
thence  up  said  river  to  Tuscarora  Mounta^  ; 
thence  southward  along  said  mountain  to  the 
state  line  between  Maryland  and  Pennsylvania; 
thence  along  the  southern  boundary  of  Penn- 
sylvania to  the  south-west  corner  of  said  state  ; 
thence  northward  along  the  western  boundary 
of  Pennsylvania  to  the  south-west  corner  of 
Mercer  County,  the  place  of  beginning. 

Auglaize  Conference, — Beginning  at  Union 
City,  Indiana ;  thence  west  with  the  Belle- 
fontaine  &  Indianapolis  Railroad,  to  Winches- 
ter ;  thence  on  a  straight  line  to  the  south-east 
corner  of  Huntington  County,  Indiana  ;  thence 
on  tne  east  line  of  said  county  north,  to  the 
Wabash  River  ;  thence  down  said  river  to  the 
crossing  of  the  Toledo,  Wabash  &  Western 
Railroad;  thence  with  said  railroad  to  Ft. 
Wayne  ;  thence  with  the  Maumee  River  to 
Defiance ;  thence  along  the  line  of  Sandusky 
Conference,  including  Ada,  North  Washing- 
ton, and  Dunkirk,  to  Forest ;  thence  with  the 
Cleveland,  Sandusky  &  Cincinnati  Railroad, 
to  the  line  of  Hardin  County ;  thence  on  the 
east  line  of  said  County,  to  the  south-east  cor- 
ner thereof;  thence  on  the  north  and  east  lines 
of  Union  County,  to  the  Delaware  and  Spring- 
field  branch   of  the  C.  C.  C.  &  I.   Railroad ; 


DISCIPLINE.  125 

thence  with  said  railroad  to  Milford  Center, 
Ohio;  thence  with  the  Pan-Handle  Railroad, 
including  Urbana,  Piqua,  and  Horatio,  to 
Union  City,  the  place  of  beginning. 

California  Conferejice, — Includes  the  state  of 
California. 

Central  Illinois  Co7iference.  —  Beginning  at 
Peru,  on  the  Illinois  River;  thence  up  the  Il- 
linois Riv^er  to  the  mouth  of  the  Kankakee 
River ;  thence  to  Kankakee  City ;  thence 
with  the  Chicago  Branch  of  the  Illinois  Cen- 
tral Railroad  to  Tolono ;  thence  with  the 
Great  Western  Railway  to  Bement;  thence 
direct  to  Shelbyville ;  thence  down  the  Okaw 
River  to  Vandalia  ;  thence  direct  to  the  mouth 
of  the  Illinois  River  ;  thence  up  said  river  to 
the  place  of  beginning. 

Colorado  Co7iference.  —  Bounded  by  the 
Union  Pacific  Railroad  on  the  north,  and  by 
the  state  lines  of  Colorado  on  the  east,  south, 
and  west. 

Dakota  Co7iference. — Beginning  at  the  north- 
west corner  of  Mononee  County,  Iowa ;  thence 
east  to  the  south-east  corner  of  Ida  County  ; 
thence  north  on  the  county  line  to  the  line  of 
the  Illinois  Central  Railroad ;  thence  east  by 
said  railroad  to  the  east  line  of  Webster 
County ;  thence  north  to  the  south  line  of  the 


126  DISCIPLINE. 

State  of  Minnesota;  thence  west  on  said  line 
to  the  south-east  corner  of  Noble  County, 
Minnesota ;  thence  north  to  the  north-east 
corner  of  said  county ;  thence  west  to  the 
Missouri  River ;  thence  down  said  river  to  the 
place  of  beginning. 

East  Des  Momes  Conference. — Beginning  at 
the  mouth  of  the  Iowa  River  ;  thence  up  said 
river  to  the  east  line  of  Marshall  County, 
Iowa ;  thence  south  to  the  Mahaska  County 
line  ;  thence  west  to  the  corner  of  said  county, 
thence  south  to  the  Des  Moines  River ;  thence 
up  said  River  to  White  Breast  Creek  ;  thence 
up  said  creek  to  the  west  line  of  Marion 
County  ;  thence  south  to  the  corner  of  said 
county ;  thence  south-west  to  the  Wayne 
County  line,  six  miles  east  of  the  north-west 
corner  of  said  county  ;  thence  south  twelve 
miles  ;  thence  west  six  miles  ;  thence  south  to 
the  Missouri  state  line ;  thence  east  on  the 
line  between  Iowa  and  Missouri  to  the  Mis- 
sissippi River  ;  thence  up  said  river  to  the 
place  of  beginning. 

Eastern  Confere?ice. — All  the  territory  now 
occupied  by  the  following  fields  of  labor,  in- 
cluding the  city  of  Philadelphia,  and  east  of 
the  Delaware  River  :  Baltimore  First  Church  ; 
Baltimore  Third  Church  ;  Middleburg  Circuit ; 


DISCIPLINE.  127 

Susquehannah  Circuit ;  Lykens  Valley  Circuit; 
Williams  Valley  Mission ;  Germanville  Mis- 
sion ;  Pine  Grove  Circuit ;  Jonestown  Circuit ; 
Belleview  Circuit ;  Union  Circuit ;  Swatara 
Circuit ;  Lebanon  First  Church  ;  Lebanon  Cir- 
cuit ;  Myerstovvn  Circuit ;  Paradise  Circuit ; 
Reading  Station  ;  Landingville  Mission  ;  Tam- 
aqua  Mission ;  Lehigh  Mission ;  Allentown 
Station  ;  Bethlehem  Mission  ;  Philadelphia 
Mission  ;  Camden  Mission. 

East  Pennsylvania  Cojiference. — Beginning 
at  the  point  where  the  line  between  Pennsyl- 
vania and  Maryland  crosses  the  Susquehan- 
nah River ;  thence  up  said  river  to  the 
south-east  corner  of  Snyder  County  ;  thence 
along  the  south  line  of  said  county  to  the 
south-west  corner  of  Snyder  County  ;  thence 
north-west  along  the  line  of  Snyder  and  Mifflin 
counties,  to  the  south-east  corner  of  Center 
County ;  thence  along  the  line  of  Center  and 
Union  counties,  to  the  north-west  corner  of 
Union  County  ;  thence  north-east  along  the 
line  of  Clinton  and  Union  counties,  across  the 
West  Branch  ;  thence  along  the  AUeghany- 
Conference  line  to  the  state  line  between  New 
York  and  Pennsylvania,  embracing  all  that 
part  of  the  State  of  Pennsylvania  east  of  the 
above  line. 


'28  DISCIPLINE. 

Erie  Conference. — Beginning  on  the  shore 
of  Lake  Erie,  at  the  north-west  corner  of  the 
State  of  Pennsylvania ;  thence  south  along  the 
state  line  between  Ohio  and  Pennsylvania  to 
the  south-west  corner  of  Mercer  County, 
Pennsylvania  ;  thence  east  with  the  line  as  de- 
scribed in  the  bounding  of  the  Alleghany 
Conference  to  the  New  York  state  line,  and 
including  the  State  of  New  York  and  all  that 
part  of  Pennsylvania  embraced  within  the 
above  described  limits. 

Fox  River  Cofiference. — Beginning  at  Mil- 
waukee, Wisconsin ;  thence  by  the  railroad 
lines  to  Watertown  and  Portage  City ;  thence 
up  the  Wisconsin  River  to  the  Michigan  state 
line  ;  thence  with  the  state  lines  south-east, 
and  the  western  shore  of  Lake  Michigan  to 
the  place  of  beginning. 

Illinois  Cojtference.- — Beginning  at  the  junc- 
tion of  the  Mississippi  and  Rock  rivers ; 
thence  up  the  latter  stream  to  the  crossing  of 
the  Peoria  &  Rock  Island  Railroad  ;  thence 
east  with  said  railroad  to  Peoria  ;  thence  down 
the  Illinois  River  to  its  mouth  ;  thence  up  the 
Mississippi  to  the  place  of  beginning. 

Indiana  Conference.  —  Beginning  at  the 
south-east  corner  of  Franklin  County,  In- 
diana ;   thence  along  the  line   of  the  White 


DISCIPLINE.  129 

River  Conference,  as  described  in  the  bound- 
aries of  that  conference,  to  the  White  River 
due  west  of  Franklin,  Indiana;  thence  down 
said  river,  and  the  Wabash,  to  the  Ohio  River; 
thence  up  said  river  to  the  moulhof  the  Great 
Miami  River  ;  thence  up  the  state  line  between 
(^hio  and  Indiana  to  the  place  of  beginning. 

loiva  Conference. — Beginning  on  the  Mis- 
sissippi River,  with  the  north  line  of  the  State 
of  Iowa  ;  thence  due  west  on  said  line  to  the 
west  line  of  Winnebago  County  ;  thence  due 
south  to  the  Dubuque  &  Sioux  City  Division 
of  the  Illinois  Central  Railroad  ;  thence  east 
along  said  railroad  to  the  Iowa  River  ;  thence 
down  said  river  to  its  junction  with  the  Mis- 
sissippi River ;  thence  up  the  Mississippi 
River  to  the  place  of  beginning. 

Kansas  Conference, — Includes  all  of  the 
State  of  Kansas  lying  north  of  a  line  running 
due  west  from  the  north-east  corner  of  Linn 
County,  in  Kansas. 

Lower  Wabash  Conference. — Beginning  at 
Gosport,  on  White  River  ;  thence  with  the  rail- 
road to  Greencastle  ;  thence  with  the  Indianap- 
olis &  Terre  Haute  Railroad  to  the  Wabash 
River  ;  thence  up  said  river  to  the  mouth  of 
Bruletts   Creek ;    thence     up    said    creek    to 

Cherry    Point ;    thence   west  on   the   Air-line 
9 


130  DISCIPLINE. 

Railroad  to  the  Illinois  Conference  line  ;  thence 
to  Shelbyville,  Illinois  ;  thence  down  the  Okaw 
River  to  Vandalia  ;  thence  south  with  the  Illi- 
nois Central  Railroad,  to  its  junction  with  the 
Ohio  &  Mississippi  Railroad ;  thence  by  the 
Skillet  Fork  and  Little  Wabash  rivers  to  Car- 
mi  ;  thence  down  the  Little  Wabash  River  to 
its  mouth ;  thence  up  the  Wabash  and  White 
rivers  to  the  place  of  beginning. 

Miami  Conference. — Beginning  at  the  mouth 
of  the  Great  Miami  River ;  thence  north  on 
the  line  between  Ohio  and  Indiana,  to  Union 
City,  and  to  include  that  city  ;  thence  east  with 
the  Pittsburgh,  Cincinnati  &  St.  Louis  Railway 
to  the  east  line  of  Champaign  County,  Ohio  ; 
thence  south  on  the  east  lines  of  the  counties 
of  Champaign,  Green,  Clinton,  and  a  part  of 
Brown  County,  to  Ripley  ;  thence  down  the 
Ohio  River  to  the  place  of  beginning. 

Michigan  Conference. — Beginning  at  a  point 
on  Lake  Erie  due  east  of  Monroe,  Michigan  ; 
thence  west  along  the  Lake  Shore  &  Michi- 
gan Southern  Railroad,  to  Sturgis  ;  thence  by 
the  Grand  Rapids  &  Indiana  Railroad,  to 
Kalamazoo ;  thence  by  the  South  Haven  & 
Kalamazoo  Railroad  to  South  Haven ;  thence 
along  the  shore  of  lake  Michigan  to  Grand 
Haven ;  thence  by  the  Detroit  &   Milwaukee 


DISCIPLINE.  131 

Railroad  east  to  Detroit ;  thence  down  the  De- 
troit River  and  the  western  shore  of  Lake 
Erie  to  the  place  of  beginning. 

Muskingum  Conference. — Beginning  at  the 
point  where  the  Pittsburgh,  Fort  Wayne  & 
Chicago  Railroad  crosses  the  line  between 
Pennsylvania  and  Ohio  ;  thence  west  on  the 
line  of  said  railroad,  to  the  west  line  of  Ash- 
land County,  Ohio,  embracing  Warner's  Chap- 
el, Benjamin  Warner's,  and  Lower's  appoint- 
ments ;  thence  south  to  the  north  line  of  Knox 
County  ;  thence  west  to  the  north-west  corner 
of  said  county  ;  thence  south  to  the  south- 
west corner  of  Knox  County ;  thence  east 
along  the  lines  of  Knox  and  Coshocton  coun- 
ties, to  Dresden  ;  then  down  the  Muskingum 
River  to  its  mouth ;  thence  up  the  Ohio  River 
and  Ohio  state  line  to  the  place  of  beginning. 

Missouri  Conference. — Embraces  all  that  part 
of  the  State  of  Missouri  lying  north  of  the 
Missouri  River. 

Minnesota  Conference. — Bounded  by  the 
state  lines. 

Nebraska  Conference. — Bounded  by  the  state 
lines  of  Nebraska. 

North  Ohio  Conference. — Beginning  at  the 
mouth  of  the  Maumee  River ;  thence  by  said 
river  to  Defiance;   thence  with  the  Toledo, 


132  DISCIPLINE. 

Wabash  &  Western  Railroad  to  Ft.  Wayne; 
thence  on  the  Ft.  Wayne  «&  Chicago  Railroad 
to  Columbia,  Whitley  County;  thence  due 
north  to  the  line  of  Noble  County ;  thence 
east  to  the  south-east  corner  of  said  county; 
thence  north  on  the  east  line  of  Noble  and 
Lagrange  counties,  to  the  Michigan  state  line  ; 
thence  west  on  said  line  to  White  Pigeon; 
thence  east  along  the  Michigan  Southern 
Railroad  to  Monroe,  on  Lake  Erie;  thence 
south  along  the  western  shore  of  said  lake  to 
the  place  of  beginning. 

Ohio  German  Conference. — Bounded  by  the 
state  lines  of  Ohio,  Kentucky,  Indiana,  and 
Illinois. 

Ontario  Conference. — Includes  all  of  the 
Province  of  Ontario,  in  the  Dominion  of  Can- 
ada. 

Oregon  Co7ifcrence. — Includes  in  its  territory 
all  of  that  portion  of  country  lying  west  of  the 
Cascade  range  of  mountains,  both  in  Oregon 
and  Washington  Territory. 

Osage  Confcrettce. — Embraces  all  of  the 
State  of  Missouri  south  of  the  Missouri  River, 
and  all  of  the  State  of  Kansas  lying  south  of  a 
line  running  due  west  from  the  north-east 
corner  of  Linn  County,  in  Kansas. 

Parkersburg  Conference. — Beginning  on  the 


DISCIPLINE.  133 

summit  of  the  Alle<::hany  Mountain,  at  the 
line  between  Pennsylvania  and  Virginia: 
thence  along  the  sunimit  of  said  mountain 
south-west  to  the  line  between  Virginia  and 
North  Carolina ;  thence  west  on  said  line  to 
the  south- west  corner  of  the  State  of  Virginia; 
thence  with  the  \'irginia  and  Kentucky  line 
north  to  the  Ohio  River ;  thence  with  said 
river  to  the  Pennsylvania  state  line;  thence 
east  on  said  line  to  the  place  of  beginning. 

Peniisylvania  Conferettce. — Beginning  on  the 
summit  of  South  Mountain,  on  the  line  be. 
tween  Maryland  and  Pennsylvania ;  thence 
to  Westminster,  Maryland  ;  thence  to  Balti- 
more, including  that  city  ;  thence  along  Ches- 
apeake Bay  and  Susquehanna  River,  to  the 
mouth  of  the  Juniata  River  ;  thence  up  said 
river  to  Tuscarora  Mountain  ;  thence  along 
said  mountain  to  the  hne  between  Maryland 
and  Pennsylvania ;  thence  east  to  the  place  of 
beginning. 

Rock  River  Conference. — Beginning  at  the 
junction  of  the  Mississippi  and  Rock  rivers  ; 
thence  east  with  the  Illinois  Conference  line, 
to  Kankakee  City,  Illinois  ;  thence  to  the  state 
line  between  Illinois  and  Indiana;  thence 
north  on  said  line  to  Lake  Michigan  ;  thence 
alono;  the  shore  of  said  lake  north,  to  the  line 


134  DISCIPLINE. 

between  Illinois  and  Wisconsin  ;  thence  west 
with  said  line  to  the  Mississippi  River  ;  thence 
down  said  river  to  the  place  of  beginning. 

Saginaw  Cojtference. — Includes  all  that  part 
of  the  State  of  Michigan  lying  north  of  the 
Detroit  &  Milwaukee  Railroad,  except  that 
Ovid  and  Bengal  circuits  remain  with  Michi- 
gan Conference. 

Sandusky  Conference. — Beginning  at  the 
mouth  of  the  Vermillion  River,  on  Lake  Erie  ; 
thence  on  an  air-line  south,  to  the  south-west 
corner  of  Ashland  County;  thence  with  the 
north  and  west  lines  of  Knox  County,  to  the 
south-west  corner  of  said  county  ;  thence  to 
the  north-west  corner  of  Trenton  Township, 
Delaware  County  ;  thence  to  the  south-east 
corner  of  Genoa  Township,  of  the  same  county ; 
thence  west  on  the  Scioto  Conference  line,  em- 
bracing Pleasant  Valley,  in  Madison  County  ; 
thence  along  the  east  and  north  lines  of  Union 
County,  to  the  south-east  corner  of  Hardin 
County  ;  thence  along  the  east  line  of  said 
county  to  Forest ;  thence  west  on  the  Pitts- 
burgh and  Fort  Wayne  Railroad  to  Johnstown  ; 
thence  to  Cairo  ;  thence  to  Kalida  ;  thence  to 
Defiance  ;  thence  down  theMaumee  River  and 
the  southern  shore  of  Lake  Erie  to  the  place 
of  beginning. 


DISCIPLINE.  135 

Scioto  Coftfercnce. — Beginning  at  Dresden, 
on  the  Muskingum  River ;  thence  west  on  the 
south  lines  of  Coshocton  and  Knox  counties 
to  the  south-west  corner  of  Knox  County; 
thence  to  the  north-west  corner  of  Trenton 
Township,  Delaware  County  ;  thence  to  the 
south-east  corner  of  Genoa  Township,  of  the 
same  county ;  thence  west  on  the  Delaware 
County  line  to  the  Whetstone  River ;  thence 
to  the  north-west  corner  of  Madison  County  ; 
thence  south,  embracing  Fayette,  Highland, 
and  a  part  of  Brown  County,  to  Ripley,  on  the 
Ohio  River;  thence  up  said  river  to  the  mouth 
of  Muskingum  River;  thence  up  said  river  to 
Dresden,  the  place  of  beginning. 

Sout/ieni  I/linois  Conference .—Emhrs.ces  all 
that  part  of  the  State  of  Illinois  lying  south 
and  west  of  the  Central  Illinois  and  Lower 
Wabash  conferences. 

St.  Joseph  Conference. — Beginning  at  Peru, 
Indian^,  on  the  Wabash  River;  thence  up 
said  river  to  Huntington  ;  thence  by  the  Au- 
glaize Conference  line  to  Ft.  Wayne  ;  thence 
by  the  Pittsburgh,  Ft.  Wayne  &  Chicago  Rail- 
road, to  Columbia  City  ;  thence  due  north  to 
the  line  of  Noble  County  ;  thence  east  to  the 
south-east  corner  of  said  county ;  thence  north 
on   the   east  lines   of   Noble   and    Lagrange 


136  DISCIPLINE. 

counties  to  the  Michigan  state  line;  thence 
west  on  said  line  to  the  Grand  Rapids  &  In- 
diana Railroad  ;  thence  by  said  railroad  to 
Kalamazoo,  Michigan;  thence  by  the  Kala- 
mazoo (S:  South  Haven  Railroad  to  Lake 
Michigan  ;  thence  along  the  lake  shore  to  the 
line  of  Illinois  and  Indiana;  thence  south  to 
Beaver  Lake ;  thence  to  the  mouth  of  Big 
Monon  Creek  ;  thence  down  the  Tippecanoe 
River  to  the  Wabash,  to  Lafayette,  including 
Lafayette;  thence  along  the  Strawtown  Road, 
including  the  town  of  Jefferson,  to  the  Indian- 
apolis &  Peru  Railroad ;  thence  along  said 
railroad  to  the  place  of  beginning,  including 
all  the  towns  and  churches  north  of  Kokomo. 

Tejinessee  Conference. — Embraces  all  that 
part  of  the  State  of  Tennessee  east  of  a  due 
north  and  south  line  drawn  through  Nash- 
ville, the  capital  of  the  state, 

upper  Wabash  Conference. — Beginning  at 
Gosport,  on  White  River,  to  the  crossing  of 
the  Indianapolis  &  Peru  Railroad;  thence  on 
the  Strawtown  Road  to  Lafayette,  on  the  Wa- 
bash River;  thence  up  said  river  to  the  muuth 
of  Tippecanoe  River;  thence  up  said  river  to 
the  mouth  of  Big  Monon  Creek;  thence  in  a 
north-western  direction  to  the  northern  extremi- 
tv  of  Beaver  Lake;  thence  to  Kankakee  Citv  : 


DISCIPLINE.  137 

thence  south  along  the  Chicago  Branch  of  the 
lUinois  Central  Railroad  to  Urbana;  thence 
south-west,  in  the  direction  of  Shelbyville,  to 
the  crossing  of  the  Air-Line  Raih-oad ;  thence 
east  on  said  road  to  Cherry  Point ;  thence 
along  the  line  of  the  Lower  Wabash  Confer- 
ence.to  the  place  of  beginning. 

Virginia  Cofiference. — Beginning  at  the 
south-east  corner  of  the  State  of  Virginia; 
thence  along  the  western  shore  of  the  Chesa- 
peake Bay  to  Baltimore  ;  thence  to  Westmin- 
ster; thence  to  the  summit  of  the  South 
Mountain,  on  the  state  line  between  Maryland 
and  Pennsylvania ;  thence  west  on  said  line 
to  the  summit  of  the  Alleghany  Mountain ; 
thence  south,  along  the  summit  of  said  mount- 
ain, to  the  state  line  between  Virginia  and 
North  Carolina  ;  thence  east  on  said  line  to 
the  place  of  beginning.  The  Virginia  Confer- 
ence shall  also  include  all  the  appointments 
embraced  in  the  Alleghany  and  New  Germany 
circuits,  now  occupied  by  the  said  conference 
within  the  limits  of  the  Parkersburg  Confer- 
ence. 

West  DesMoines  Conference. — Beginning  at 
the  north-west  corner  of  Monona  County ; 
thence  east  to  the  north-east  corner  of  Marshall 
County  ;  thence  south  on  the  line  of  East  Des 


138  DISCIPLINE. 

Moines  Conference  to  the  Missouri  state  line  ; 
thence  west  to  the  south-west  corner  of  the 
State  of  Iowa ;  thence  along  the  west  line  of 
the  state  to  the  place  of  beginning. 

Western  Reserve  Conference. — Beginning  at 
the  north-east  corner  of  the  state  of  Ohio ; 
thence  south  on  the  State  line  to  the  crossing 
of  said  line  by  the  Pittsburgh,  Fort  Wayne  & 
Chicago  Railroad ;  thence  west,  embracing 
Pleasant  Valley,  Paradise,  and  Carr  appoint- 
ments, with  said  railroad,  to  the  west  line  of 
Ashland  County,  Ohio ;  thence  north  to  the 
mouth  of  Vermillion  River;  thence  east  along 
the  shore  of  Lake  Erie  to  the  place  of  beginning ; 
provided,  that  Orangeville  Church  in  Ohio  re- 
main with  Erie  Conference,  and  Beaver 
Church  in  Pennsylvania  remain  with  Western 
Reserve  Conference. 

White  River  Conference. — Beginning  at  and 
including  Indianapolis  and  suburbs  ;  thence 
up  White  River  to  the  crossing  of  the  Indian- 
apolis &  Peru  Railroad ;  thence  along  said 
railroad  to  the  Wabash  River;  thence  up  said 
river  to  the  Wells  County  line  ;  thence  south 
to  the  south-east  corner  of  Huntington  Coun- 
ty;  thence  on  a  straight  line  to  Winchester; 
thence  eastward  along  the  railroad  to  the  Ohio 
and  Indiana   state   line  ;  thence   south^  along 


DISCIPLINE.  139 

the  state  line  to  the  south-east  corner  of  Frank-? 
lin  County,  Indiana ;  thence  westward  to 
Greensburg  ;  thence  to  Columbus  ;  thence  to 
Nashville  ;  thence  west  to  White  River  ;  thence 
up  the  river  to  the  south  line  of  Marion  Coun- 
ty ;  thence  west  to  the  south-west  corner  of 
said  county ;  thence  north  to  the  north-west 
corner  of  the  same  county  ;  thence  east  on  the 
north  line  to  the  Peru  &  Indianapolis  Rail- 
way. Kokomo  and  all  the  towns  and  church- 
es on  and  in  the  vicinity  of  the  Indianapolis 
&  Peru  Railroad,  south,  are  within  the 
bounds  of  White  River  Conference.  All  the 
towns  and  churches  north  of  Kokomo,  on  and 
in  the  vicinity  of  said  railroad,  are  within  the 
bounds  of  St.  Joseph  Conference. 

Wisconsi7i  Cotiference. — Beginning  at  Mil- 
waukee, Wisconsin ;  thence  south  to  the  Illi- 
nois state  line;  thence  west  on  the  line  be- 
tween Illinois  and  Wisconsin  to  the  Mississippi 
River;  thence  up  said  river  and  the  Wiscon- 
sin state  line  to  Lake  Superior ;  thence  with 
the  shore  of  said  lake  and  the  Michigan  and 
Wisconsin  state  line  to  the  Wisconsin  River ; 
thence  down  said  river  to  Portage  City ; 
thence  along  the  Watertown  &  Portage  City 
Railroad  to   Watertown ;    thence    along    the 


I40  DISCIPLINE. 

Milwaukee    &    Watertown    Railroad    to    the 
place  of  beginning. 

JValla  Walla  Conference. — Includes  all  that 
portion  of  Oregon  and  Washington  Territory 
lying  east  of  the  Cascade  Mountains,  and  also 
Idaho  Territory. 


BX9878.52  .Al  1877 

Origin,  doctrine,  constitution,  and 


Princeton  Theological  Seminary-Speer  Library 


1    1012  00045  6121 


